Topic: With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now being the bestselling game in the series, how likely is a Mario Kart 9 for the Switch?

This is something that I've been wondering about for a while, but now with the recent news of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe becoming the bestselling game in the Mario Kart series, I thought this was worth some discussion again. Do you think it's realistic for Nintendo to make a Mario Kart 9 during the Switch's runtime, or do you think they'll wait until their next big console to release a new game? I personally think it makes sense for them to wait until their next flagship, as much as I want a Mario Kart 9 for the Switch. 8 Deluxe just seems like too big of a heavy-hitter for Nintendo to just move on from it at this point. What do you guys think?

Sure Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to sell, but Nintendo aren't making any money from the almost 40 million people who already bought it (ignoring arguably from Switch online memberships).

I think it would be silly for Nintendo to be complacent and just sit on the sales of 8 Deluxe. Sure, making Mario Kart 9 would cost them money - but it's probably guaranteed to sell tens of millions at this point.

I do agree that aligning the next Mario Kart with the launch of new hardware might be a good strategy though - moreso to push the new hardware than anything.

I also wonder how the mobile game factors in. Maybe we haven't had a new console game because efforts are focused there?

@Buizel The amount of support that MK Tour has gotten has irritated me a little bit. I'm really not into mobile gaming, so it's disappointing for me to see that game get so much support, while the console series has laid dormant for years. It's cool for people who are into mobile gaming I suppose, but it seems they have some different priorities with the series right now.

While I do undoubtedly believe that Mario Kart 9 would sell like crazy on the Switch, I wonder if that would just lead to a Mario Kart 9 Deluxe for the next flagship, considering that the Switch is now halfway through its lifespan, according to Nintendo.

If it were up to me, as much as I want a Mario Kart 9, I think I would wait until the next flagship, just to sort of get the lineup with the consoles back on track.

I think the Switch's successor will launch in holiday 2022 or March 2023 given the halfway comment was made in May 2020 with when it launches depending solely on BotW 2 (if it maintains 2022 release then 2022 for the system, if delay to March 2023 like with BotW in 2017 then March 2023 for the system). I think there'll be a crossgen window where games like Metroid Prime 4 releases on both consoles.

Regarding Mario Kart, I could see either a new game being a launch window title for the Switch's successor or there being a major DLC for MK8 Deluxe. Happy Home Paradise suggests Nintendo may use the NSO Expansion Pack as a way to introduce paid DLC for multiplayer titles without fracturing the userbase as much.

Mario Kart 9 is most likely if not Mario Kart X ... This one would sell better as the "X" looks better for marketing.

My Mario Kart 9 money ready.

@Grumblevolcano no way that the next Nintendo console releases for another couple years. They have hardly even mentioned a new console and we see no sign of the switch’s popularity slowing down

@StarPoint Honestly, it's one of the two ports I have on Switch (other being Tokyo Mirage Sessions). I haven't bothered with most Wii U ports since I can just play them on my Wii U. With that in mind, I would like a Mario Kart 9, just for some new tracks.

For people who didn't have a Wii U, it's cool they're enjoying it. As someone with a Wii U, I love it, but wouldn't mind a new entry in the series.

@Blooper987 Nintendo reveals stuff a lot closer to launch nowadays like the Switch teaser happened on October 20th 2016 and the system released on March 3rd 2017. Nintendo has no need to tease investors with codenames with the Switch still being a success (Codename NX was announced in March 2015 to appease investors because the Wii U wasn't doing well) so they could just announce the Switch successor at E3 2022 if it was to release in holiday 2022.

Watch, there just going to port MK tour on the switch.

The next Mario kart is gonna be on the next Nintendo console

As long as Mario Kart 8 continues to sell, there is zero incentive for Nintendo to release a new game in the franchise. That's not to say they aren't working on Mario Kart 9 in some fashion, but you're not going to hear a peep about it until they are certain they won't lose money on the previous game. Same with the Switch successor. As long as the current generation Switch continues to meet and surpass sales goals and projections, Nintendo isn't going to say one word about their next console.

I've guessed for a while that Mario Kart 9 is going to be the new BOTW, in that it will be on both the new and old Switch on the launch day of the next system. But I could be wrong.

As much as people keep saying and assuming Mario Kart 9 isn't coming soon because the last game keeps selling (that hasn't stopped Nintendo before), I checked a while ago on some of the developers of Arms (which was made by the Mario Kart team). All three directors of Arms have been on zero Nintendo games after Arms. So um...something big's probably coming, that seems pretty clear to me.

@Grumblevolcano
Wouldn't it be silly to release Splatoon 3 in spring/summer for Switch and then release a new hardware a half year later? Wouldn't they just wait for the new console to release and then release Splatoon there?

I hope, if the new hardware takes some time, they release Mario Kart 9 some time soon... I wouldn't mind if they release another "Deluxe" version on the new hardware later.

A lot of people want Mario Kart for their Nintendo console. Not all of those people will want two Mario Karts for the same console.

Mario Kart is Nintendo's number one title. When have they ever released two Mario Karts on the same platform?

The Switch already has two Mario Karts if you count Home Circuit.

I can see why a lot of you wouldn't want to count it though.

You would think a fraction of these customers would buy Crash Team Racing on Switch also. Mario Kart is unstoppable.

I say zero.

Nintendo will need to go in all guns blazing with Mario Kart 9 as a launch title, and I imagine that we will see a few cross-generational titles as well, but Nintendo would be foolish to release Mario Kart 9 in such a fashion as that will be an instant system seller.

@Budda Splatoon relies on there being a playerbase (much like any other online multiplayer focused game) and given the Switch is so successful you run the risk of its successor not being very successful which would mean it's harder to find matches.

Hence companies generally release online multiplayer focused games for the system with the already existing playerbase. Splatoon 2 being a launch window game for the Switch is an exception rather than the rule as a result of the Wii U being such a commercial failure.

So considering this, the only major way Splatoon 3 being a Switch game would be silly is if the Switch's successor doesn't have backwards compatibility of which I think backwards compatibility is an expectation for the successor, not a hope.

@StarPoint @Buizel MK8 isn't just the best selling game, it's the second best selling game since April, with only Swyward Sword ahead of it.

https://venturebeat.com/2021/11/04/nintendo-has-14-games-that...

I was hoping they would add some DLC, maybe 4 new drivers, circuits and karts to celebrate 40 million copies sold?

I can't see MK9 coming out until sales of MK8 significantly slow down.