Talking Point: Could 'Mario Kart 9' Be The Smash Bros. Ultimate Of Racers?

I have no reason to believe Mario kart is coming this year considering how well Deluxe is selling and will continue to sell.
(It's the literal best selling switch game).

And the Mario Kart 9 being in development is probably just some made up guess from the analytics and we all know how accurate those people are...

I have been under the firm belief that Mario Kart Tour has been a tool for research for the next mainline game, just like Animal crossing Pocket Paradise was for ACNH.

If Smash is on a break then Nintendo Kart feels like a good idea. Get the franchise names out there in a different form.

I would prefer Diddy Kong Racing 2

My ideal Mario Kart 9:

Double Dash as a mode (so you can play either way), Mission Mode returns (with bosses), 6 new cups, 6 retro cups, track variants (take from the phone game, add ramps, reverse/mirror, all the stuff), all the tracks from the mario kart arcades that never got home release, all previous drivers return (with alt costumes from phone game where applicable), and any completely new tracks from the phone game (the ones based on locations) get added.

Also an F-Zero mode. Big Blue and Mute City are ace tracks in 8’s DLC(or the deluxe version). So yeah, give me all the original f zero tracks mario kartified all the way up to port town. Of course with amazing music remixes.

If it has a single-player mode like the one in Diddy Kong Racing, then it will have my full attention.

I kind of hope that they don't go with the "Nintendo All-Star" concept, considering that Smash Ultimate is the perfect implementation of this idea, and I think if they did that with other games it would devalue just how special Smash is.

Oh god, imagine playing as Captain Falcon… in a racing game!

@StarPoint Agreed. I also think Sakurai’s specific vision for the series is what lead to it being the spectacular, detail rich crossover that it is. The scope for recreating that magic in Mario Kart seems more limited to me.

The fact you managed to get 3 articles out of 1 unfounded rumor would make Peter Jackson proud.

I would like them to update the game over time just like the app game, Because just think about it.

If mario kart 8 was like its mobile counterpart, we would have a whole hell of a lot of characters.

Saying that Mario Kart 8 is 8 years old rocked me to my core.

Essentialy a Mario kart DS level of content and modes would be what I want from 9.

I don't care what they do just make the online more robust. MK8 online runs great but the features are lacking.

I think it would be pretty awesome if it was, just imagine all of the cool stages they could create! A stage based on Majora's Mask? Yes please!

Although at that point you have to question if it really is a Mario Kart game anymore, honestly even if they just made a new Double Dash that would be more than enough for me, the Switch is practically built for it since you can play Mario Kart with just one joycon.

There ain't a chance mk9 is coming this year, or even on the current switch. It'll be on the pro or next gen system, which is years away

I really want 'story mode', like Diddy Kong Racing (why not making it an option in the poll?).
Boss battles, minigames/battles thrown into the mix, collecting hard-to-get coins during a race. It can really make single player more engaging

Imagine all the crossover franchises

Oof, I wanted to pick 3 options. I'd love to see Smash Kart, but actual flying and the return of the Double-Dash mechanic would be great.

Mario Kart Ultimate, but with all previous tracks instead of all previous characters would also be cool. With Mario Kart I feel like the tracks are more important than the racers.

I mean.....maybe? I'll believe it when I see it.

"jokey remarks pleading for people to stop buying 8 Deluxe."

Oh not all of those people are joking.

They could perhaps scratch people's racing itch with a new Diddy Kong Racing and F-Zero, then save MK9 for Switch 2? Probably wishful thinking but I'd much prefer that then just another MK on Switch. We have a perfectly great MK on Switch already.

Given how well MK8D is still selling, I imagine Nintendo is in no rush to release a follow up. If the mobile game is raking in money as well on the side, even less incentive I feel.

Were branding not such a major thing, I would certainly believe there'd be a "Nintendo Kart" or "Super Racing Bros" similar to the massive crossover done with Smash. But there's no way Nintendo would abandon the name "Mario Kart", not that it has any impact on who gets included.

I guess it's still a bit early to tell what's going to happen. I actually didn't even pick up MK8D myself, so I should probably do that at some point, huh?

I don't want this. I'd much rather prefer a Kirby Air Ride 2 or a new Diddy Kong Racing.

You left out the one idea for the next Mario Kart that's I really want the most: open world. The problem with most of the ideas in the poll, Nintendo Kart included (really true flying is the only one that sounds good), is that they're not true "shakeups". There's nothing fundamentally different gameplay wise about any of these things that would set it apart from MK8D, these ideas all just feel like 8D 2.0. For Nintendo to make a second Mario Kart on Switch (and I do believe they will, Nintendo can't have no idea about how the Switch can take Mario Kart to the next level), I'm not sure a true MK9 is wise, they're going to need something that fundamentally changes what Mario Kart can be so it won't cannibalize sales of 8D. Nintendo Kart doesn't in and of itself, it's just the same gameplay with a greater variety of tracks, characters, items, and other assets to choose from. Something like open world Mario Kart though? That could appeal to a completely different audience and you could have some people that only like traditional Mario Kart and some people that only like open world Mario Kart (similar to linear vs. sandbox Mario or 2D Metroid vs. Metroid Prime), so you could constantly create a traditional Mario Kart games and open world Mario Kart games on the same console. And since Nintendo is now down to one hybrid console, the issue of needing a second Mario Kart to fill the lineup is going to be a permanent one, so they'll need this sort of dynamic from here on out.

@Poodlestargenerica I don't think just remastering more old content is the way to go. Part of the problem is that 8D and Tour are already focused on old content, so more old content would just continue to irritate people. We don't need more old content, we need new content, content that's designed for the Switch from the ground up. Mario Kart really hasn't done much of anything new since 2014, we're overdue for something never been done before.

I want a Mario kart 9 but I can’t see it on the switch but it’s successor

Mario Kart Ultimate: All the tracks are here.

I just hope it's not planned as a Switch successor system seller. I still haven't bought Mario Kart and now I'm waiting for news on this one.

Not in the poll: A track builder.

@JuanERdz The poll options are terrible, yeah. The rumors mention a "shakeup" and all they can think of is tweaks to existing mechanics, and adding in other Nintendo characters? Sounds like the writers have less of an idea for what Nintendo could do for the next Mario Kart than the fans.

Track builder would be great. I don't think that's the "shakeup" and it probably won't happen until a future title (maybe MK10 or 11). But it would be very fun and different and give more life to the online.

I fear they will never coming up with concepts like a mall, and subway station if we get Nintendo kart....but it would really set it apart from deluxe, so it's still an option!

I just hope we get an actual new Mario kart on switch soon!! 😁♥️

I seriously doubt there will be a Mario Kart 9. MK8DX is selling so well on the switch you'd think it was a next-gen console. All this hype surrounding 9 is based on a 'claim' by those analysts that we know are oh so accurate. I'll believe 9 when I see it, which will be in a few years, not this year

@iLikeUrAttitude 8 Deluxe still selling doesn't preclude everyone who owns it from wanting and purchasing another game in the series.

You did not include an option for track design - I predict it will have creative elements a la Mario Maker - think "Mario Kart Maker".

I sincerely hope they keep the best parts of MK Tour and make it less of a cash grab given that the new game will not be free to play. At its core, the combo system is a solid game mechanic that would be amazing with proper controls. Weekly challenges, ranked mode, and content updates with new karts, drivers and gliders are also great. If they can do it for a mobile game with a small dev team, they can do it for MK9.

@Medic_Alert 9 could include every track every, just like Smash Ultimate, and/or have a fully fleshed out story mode. Times have moved on and 8 is old hat now.

On the one hand a shake up of the traditional formula is always welcome, Mario Kart 8 had the anti gravity mechanic, so no doubt some new feature for the next game.

Would love an open world hub area set in the mushroom kingdom, with some iconic locales, obviously using different Nintendo franchises themes for courses should stay, and it would be nice to get some other non Nintendo franchises characters in the game too.

Lightning McQueen but like sitting in a kart. Ka-chow!

I would love to see some kind of story mode in mario kart, like CTR and Diddy Kong, but I bet you Nintendo is looking at sales figures and thinking " we don't need story mode for this to sell".

Really want MK9 but Switch and Nintendo already have enough for this year so make it a dual release in 2023 or 2024. Chocobo GP releases in March, that will hopefully hold me over until then.

Make it like diddy Kong racing and I’m in.

Actually I’m in no matter what.

Nintendo is not stupid to release another mainline Mario Kart game on Switch, when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling well, expect Mario Kart 9 only on Switch sucessor.

the twist for Mario Kart 9 will be a open world Mario Kart, Nintendo Kart will dilute Mario Kart if this actualy happen in Mario Kart 9.

Literally don't care about new characters. I just want fun new tracks. The characters are totally removed from what matters for me in the Mario Kart experience.

Is Mario Kart 9 in development? Probably.
Does this mean that Nintendo will release it this year? Doubt it.
Nintendo's main concern is making money, and while Mario Kart 8 is still topping the sales charts, it's unlikely that Nintendo would release a game that would undermine the sales of a top seller. When Mario Kart 8 sales start to decline, then Nintendo might announce a release window for Mario Kart 9.

I remember when analysts predicted Bloodborne 2 for like 5 years.

And that totally happened, right? And the Switch Pro?

@Jamie_R I'm not dismissing the demand because of the sales (though I'm not sure if they're a minority or a majority at this point), I'm saying that the sales give Nintendo no incentive to make a sequel.
After all why make a new Mario Kart when Deluxe still continues to be the best selling Switch game years later?
It's selling as if it just came out still.

The latest update to Home Circuit brought, essentially, the GameCube buddy mechanic to that game.

I'll be excited for MKNext whenever it comes, and will likely play the heck out of it.

It has been REALLY disappointing for those of us who bought MK8 day one on WiiU.

Since we no longer have a handheld and a home console from Nintendo the number of MK games has been essentially cut in half (sorry, but MKT is just no good - no controller = not a MK worth playing).

How Nintendo could choose not to do DLC for MK8 on Switch is insane. They'd have made tens of millions of dollars for a track pack.

All that said - I expect MKNext to be a release title for the Switch 2.

Theres potential for third party characters as well such as cloud and the joker again etc

Also would be awesome for them to include a track editor so we can all create and share out own tracks

Awesome - let's invite more divisive bickering over rumor speculation into the mix! Not enough of that in the world.

Can't wait for all the forthcoming Youtuber "analysis", angry-beard thumbnails shots, and spin-off articles! So much CONTENT potential!!

Adventure mode, a la Crash Team Racing? Maybe kart racing's first Battle Royale? Or straight up Mario Kart Horizon? I would take any of these things in the next MK.

Make it the ultimate Mario Kart, with the intention of being the last one.

Build it with the idea of continuous expansions, with new tracks, characters, karts (and bikes and what not), and game modes being released on a quarterly basis.

Use a new graphics engine that can be scaled over time; this worked for Fortnite in Unreal 4, with the game’s visuals improving over the years. And it’s fixing to start switching over the UE5. Nintendo should do the same with the next Mario Kart. Use an all new engine that can be scaled and updated easily for improved hardware. Plus they could use said engine for every first party title, saving them a lot of money in the long run.

Online should be the major focus. Weekly and daily challenges to keep it fresh. In game voice chat for lobbies and for team battle mode. Themed season passes.

What I’d like to see from Mario Kart 9 is, a story/campaign mode like Diddy Kong Racing or Crash Team Racing, daily challenges like MK Tour, character costumes like MK Tour (but not as separate racers) and more characters, but not a Smash Bros like roster, a more Super Mario oriented roster, so like more Donkey Kong and add WarioWare characters. Though I wouldn’t mind some guest characters, like Kirby.

You mentioned Metroid, but I’d rather see anything Metroid in a racing game to be in a (hopeful) new F-Zero with Samus and maybe Star Fox as playable racers.

I think Mario Kart 9 is coming next holiday season but it won't be on Switch but rather whatever they end up calling the Switch's successor (which I don't think will be "Switch Pro" or "Switch 2," but something different).

Ultimate troll: it's Nintendo Kart and "everyone there" but they remove Waluigi ^_^ ROFL

Bring 👏 back 👏 Mission 👏 Mode

The next Mario Kart game needs these things:

1. Transformable vehicles into Land / Water / Air vehicles (idea from SEGA Racing All Stars)

2. Various track place setting such Normal track on the ground or Watery place or in the Sky (idea from Skylanders Superchargers Racing)

3. Track customization (idea from Modnation Racers / Trackmania)

4. Customable characters / vehicles from scratch (idea from Modnation Racers)

5. Stackable items into next level power up (idea from Chocobo Racing)

6. Various vehicles for Ground / Water / Air (idea from Skylanders Superchargers Racing)

7. Story Mode like Skylanders Superchargers

8. Special ability for each character once their meter is full from Super Dash or Auto Level up item or Mega Flare (idea from Chocobo Racing)

9. Super Eurobeat music (Initial D)

10. Two time setting at the same track (Day or Night time)

Would absolutely love a Ultimate style Mario Kart but more so for tracks and karts than characters. The more characters the merrier but if karts had unique handling mechanics on top of a plethora of courses (48 doesn’t feel like enough) then I’d really be thrilled for a new entry. If somehow the could expand kart customization while keeping it accessible it would also be cool.

Story mode, mission mode, all previous tracks, something focused on weather, real time, track builder…

There’s many ways they could increase on it! 😄

@DanElectrode So, you think Nintendo will release a completely new gaming system to launch in 11 month?

Sigh. As if the characters and themes are what matters in a racing game. The true identity of every MK so far lies in its feel and gameplay.

What would I like to see? Some changes were not for the better - I regret that items no longer stay on the course but vanish. Spamming the course with bananas was fun, and it was cool that your own banana from lap 1 could lead to your downfall in lap 3. Wider courses meant less fun cornering - both are changes they introduced from MK Wii on. A third is that somehow green shells are not as fun as they used to be. In DD (my favourite entry) hitting someone felt more real, I don't know why. Still, MK 8 was fantastic, in many ways perfect, which is why it keeps selling.

And why do you support this idea that they should just throw everything and the kitchen sink into the game? It's a view that's ignorant of the quality of MK (and just sees quantity).

@mr12calvin Well, I think they've already been working on it for a while. The Switch launched 5 years ago.

There's not really any reason for them to do a second Mario Kart game on the Switch, seeing as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe already continues to be the best selling game on the system week after week anyway, and they've never done more than one Mario Kart game on a given home console generation before, so I think it's a fairly safe bet that if a new Mario Kart game is coming, it will be on the next console.

If they're gonna pull anything from Smash, it better be an expanded level of gameplay customization. Disable or enable specific items, not just vague options. Turn coins on or off. Choose to store 1 or 2 items. Decide the number of laps, and the number of racers. Make a number of teams, or every racer for themselves.

It would be disappointing if we couldn't make racing in the game more personal. Let us try out out own ideas for fun. That was something Sakurai let players do with a number of his projects, like Kirby Air Ride and Meteos. I feel like games such as Mario Kart and Mario Party could benefit from that level of flexibility too.

Doubt it'll come out this year they're already quite busy with several other big titles like MP4 and BOTW2

I'm worried for future of MK and Smash at this point as I don't know what they could do for either series and I worry they'll turn both games into live service games, which I guess they already did with that MK mobile phone game

MK9 I'd love to see a sp mode with hub worlds and boss fights on every hub

I'm one of the few people who don't want Mario Kart to become Smash Kart.

There are so many good Mario characters still missing, like E. Gadd, and characters like Pauline and Kamek are still exclusive to the mobile game, and characters from the Mario RPGs deserve a chance.

And if they really want more franchises, add characters from Donkey Kong, Wario, Yoshi and Rhythm Heaven, because those are still part of the Mario universe.

Come to think of it, Double Dash 2 sounds like it could be great as well. Maybe there could be some concept where the karts split in certain spots, or you could combine with another driver like in Crash Tag Team Racing, just… not bad. The possibilities are endless for a new Mario Kart game

I belive MK9 and zelda botw 2 will be launch games for switch 2. So either next christmas or somewhere in 2023.

I think the best shake-up would be for Mario Kart to follow Splatoon's lead.

And Octo Expansion-type story mode where they use the different racing mechanics for platforming/battling. Mission-based, since they would have to figure out the mechanics first. Eventually we could see sequels diving into open world.

Constant online updates to make the individual racers/karts actually matter, since most people don't really care about those that much.

Splatfest-type of events where we get new tracks.

With the story mode fleshing out movement/battling, a completely new competitive online mode.

the only idea from ultimate I'd like to see is all tracks from all games return for 9

Eh, I feel like Mario kart is another series where it's going stale on me...DS was the last best game for me. 7 was just...meh. 8 was alright, but I was just getting bored with it constantly...I kept thinking about giving it another chance with the Switch version, but at the same time...

sighs

Whenever 9 happens, I just wished it would get support like that Tour game is getting. Obviously it's free2play but, even in the form of paid DLC for 9 would be fine. I can't remember exactly what 8 did back then...I know some collabs with other Nintendo games happened, but that came and went pretty quickly I think?...

Apologies if someone else has said it, there are a lot of comments already...

Mario Kart Maker.

With similar content updates like mario maker 2 had. Add new course elements, characters, etc. But also have a story mode that gives you ideas on how/what to incorporate into your builds — again, like mario maker. And then of course the online share ability for your courses or cups. Even if it is in the style of super nintendo or n64 to better allow for the customizations, I'd be all over this.

Dare to dream, but that'd be fantastic.

I’d like them to keep the “Nintendo Kart” elements to a dull roar. What we have now is great in my opinion because it is still definitely Mario Kart, just with some other Nintendo influences.

@momentoususurp That sounds like a really neat idea!

I mean Link, Isabelle, villager, Inkling, Mii and Dk are all in 8 Deluxe, so if we are talking about opening the game up to include more Nintendo IPs ... what, Samus and Oliver?

I guarantee you if 9 comes out in the next 15 months or so it will Have at least Rex, maybe Pyra, but beyond that ... probably nothing new. Maybe a Rabbid.

Cool. Why would anyone care?

It could happen. Wouldn’t be a bad idea actually. Add in mission mode like the DS game.

Just make an all new game please I get why the upgraded smash U and Mario kart 8 from Wii U to switch but time for some fresh games from both franchises.

I didn't see my option on the poll, but I'd just like to see a Mario Kart with takedowns and kart damage from smashing your kart against someone elses. And I feel like open world like Forza would have been a good option as well, that would really differentiate itself apart from 8 deluxe.

The only “creative twist” that this generation of gamers can think and gobble up is to go “open world” or “battle Royale”.

No… not everything needs to be an open world

@noobish_hat lol, if you buy it so many times already, I bet you will next time

I voted no chance for a 2022 release, and voted for more tracks and characters. MK9 looks like it will be saved for the Switch 2. An option to fly would be interesting, as we saw in Diddy Kong Racing. Not to forget that game had hovercrafts for water too. Vehicle types were set before each race, which is different to a "transformed" option of karts becoming boats or planes during a race. Personally, fans now just want more content: more tracks and characters, and perhaps with double-dash dual characters per kart.

The obsession into turning Mario Kart into Nintendo Kart is practically a meme at this point.

Why not add story mode to that poll. Smash ultimate is a great achievement in gaming. But not every game needs to be smash. In smash each character can be unique not only with their design but also in move sets. In Mario kart they all really play the same. And I don’t want to pay 20 bucks to see master chiefs back as I race.

All I really want is story mode, characters like fawful or antasma, and maybe a double dash side mode.

@fafonio I mean it's not hard to see why open world is insanely popular. Having a huge open world allows you to immerse yourself in the game for days, weeks even doing whatever you want. Like it or not, that's not going away anytime soon, and Nintendo will probably have a racing take on that at some point if not now.

But even if you don't want Mario Kart to go open world, there's a ton of things Mario Kart can do to differentiate itself from MK8:
*Adopt R tracks from Tour
*Add in a legitimate shop to buy car parts instead of randomly unlocking them from a certain coin total.
*Bring back Double Dash, potentially expand on it by allowing karts to split or something?
*Bring back Mission Mode
*Add in a track editor
*Legitimate flying instead of gliding
*Event Cups that rotate after a certain period of time

That's like, 2 or 3 games worth of changes.

I see the gaming media has a new rumor to obsess about.

I just want to mention that not every game needs to be open world.

They had enough time to develop 1,5 games.

New MK 9 and the original Mario Kart remake. We will celebrate MK's 30th anniversary this year.

As mentioned before, I'd more readily welcome MK9 as the "Burnout Paradise" or at least the "Diddy Kong Racing" of Mario Kart, so to speak - although to humour the "analysts" (damn, by now I almost have to resist juvenile upper case puns) for a sec, a "Nintendo Kart and Knuckles" would also be pretty neat if ever a reality.

No way can I see it releasing in 2022 or on Switch for that matter... with MK8D selling so well why would you.
Also, it's the perfect game to release with the Switch 2 to hit the ground running upon release.

I would like an open world (new donk city), with the mario metro course as a connection..and a diddy kong racing (far better than MK64 btw) structure

Few more nintendo crossover courses, zelda,pikmin, f zero, metroid and kirby be nice maybe also a cup fully of courses based on more obsure nintendo franchises such as chibi robo , doshin the giant, The Mysterious Murasame Castle and startropics etc be nice cameos.

I'm really excited for mario kart 9 but when you talk about it being "the smash ultimate of mario kart" makes me doubt it. I really don't like the idea of there being a lot of new characters, But don't get the wrong idea! I don't hate the idea, but adding a few new characters would help and I would love to see new tracks and gaming mechanics. I can't really say I hate it because it's still in development, but we'll see when it comes out. and I am definitely looking forward to it!

In case you guys have forgotten, 2022 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Mario Kart series! Of course they'll want to celebrate that!

I'm fine with there being a few Nintendo franchise guest characters like 8 Deluxe had, but I don't want Mario Kart to lose its identity.

I'd much rather see lots of new and returning Mario characters, without the need for using alt versions of characters such as Metal, Gold, or Powerup versions. Bring back Petey Piranha, Birdo, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Wiggler etc. Then bring in the new characters from Mario Kart Tour, Pauline, Dixie Kong, Nabbit, Kamek, etc.

Then also add new characters like the Broodals, or King K. Rool, or Wart.

I've been saying for years, Mario Kart 8 will be the last "Mario" Kart Nintendo makes. I think it will be retitled Nintendo Kart and include a giant roster similar to Smash. Maybe it will have deeper loadouts for characters and karts. Either way, I'm a day one purchase of the next Nintendo Kart Racer. I think the market is ready for the next game despite how well it's selling. I believe they're currently selling to new Switch owners but there's a large number of people who have owned the game for years and are ready to buy the next game.

But at the same time, I don't think we see it this year. I think modern games are taking longer from design to systems in the world's current status.

Mario Kart 9 will be a Switch 2 launch title next year.

@DanElectrode I would agree with you but seeing Splatoon having two games on one system doesn’t make sense either

@mr12calvin I think that Splatoon 3 will probably also be for the next console after Switch.

I’m with Miyamoto, keep it as Mario Kart, not a “Smash/Nintendo Kart”. There’s plenty of other Mario characters they can use, I’ve always said they should use more DK and Wario/Ware characters.
If there’s anything else I’d like to see in MK9 it’s a story/campaign mode like Diddy Kong Racing and challenges similar to MK Tour.

@DanElectrode Honestly, I think that would have been a better option. It’s coming for Switch in only just about 4 months. And it honestly feels like a Splatoon 1.3… :/
Hopefully it will have a good single player!
I didn’t even finish the single player on the first one

@mr12calvin Yeah, making a sequel that's also for Switch that looks basically identical is kind of a weird choice IMHO, seems like it could've just been DLC for Splatoon 2 or something.