Nintendo kicked off its Switch 2 direct presentation with the official announcement of Mario Kart World. First teased during the Switch 2 announcement trailer back in January, Mario Kart World is the latest installment in the beloved kart racing series.
As the name suggests, Mario Kart World expands on the series by giving players the ability to race across the globe. It's an open-world twist on the franchise with multiple modes that cater to all your racing desires.
Classic Grand Prix makes a return with various Cups. In this mode, you race across four courses with the goal of finishing number one overall. It sounds like this will be a seamless experience as you drive to the next course as part of the competition without any loading screens.
Knockout Tour is a new game mode where you race nonstop from one corner of the world to another. There are multiple checkpoints along the way and if you're below the placement shown when you reach the checkpoint, you are eliminated.
Free Roam is another new game mode where you're able to freely drive around the open world without the stress of racing. You can head off road, exploring new areas and routes, discovering secrets and even the perfect scenic spot to take a screenshot. You can also play Free Roam with friends.
Beyond game modes, Mario Kart World looks to offer the most robust and in-depth gameplay we've seen yet in the series. Nintendo didn't go into full details, but the initial trailer offered a sizzle reel of highlights that included new and returning characters, customization options with hats and outfits, multiple vehicle options, the ability to bounce off of walls, and more.
One especially intriguing new gameplay feature is the dynamic weather. Depending on time of day and weather conditions, the atmosphere will change, affecting your driving conditions.
Mario Kart World was announced exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, which means it won't be available on the original Swich console. It will launch the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2 console, which Nintendo has already confirmed will release on June 5th.
Mario Kart World will be offered as part of a launch bundle with the Switch 2. It will cost $499.99 for a Switch 2 with a digital copy of the game. Alternatively, the Switch 2 costs $449.99 for just the console itself, so you'd be saving $10 on the game with a bundle option.
We can learn more about Mario Kart World on April 17th during a special Direct presentation. It willb egin at 6:00 a.m. PT/ 9:00 a.m. ET.