Takaya Imamura: F-Zero Hasn't Been Revived Because Mario Kart Is Nintendo's "Most Popular Racing Game"

It’s not that they don’t have any new ideas for F-Zero. If they really wanted, they could come up with one.

I think it just comes down to money. With how expensive game development is these days, I doubt an F-Zero would turn any kind of noteworthy profit. Realistically, only the Nintendo die-hards would buy it.

That’s how I see it.

I swear to god if somebody says they should have made f zero instead of everybody 1 2 switch I'm going to lose it

What if...You can have TWO best selling racing games?

I'm not even a fan of F-Zero or played any of the games, but come on.

I do wonder how many that ask about F-zero would buy the game?

My take is

You know what? I can accept this answer. Mario Kart already sells crazy amounts of copies and makes tons of money (Mario kart 8 is 9 years old and still remains a top 10 game sales staple!) Adding F-Zero racetracks and cars to Mario Kart was a smart way to acknowledge the series in a fitting tribute. Maybe we could see the captain himself alongside the blue falcon in the next Mario kart 👀

(That would be awesome, HD captain falcon)

@link12684 At this point I would not only buy myself a copy, I would buy copies for all my Switch playing friends. It has been too damn long.

@Slinkoy1 too late.

YEEEEAAAAARRRGGHH!!! Why??!! Just why?!!

He’s probably right about Mario Kart being the reason F zero is dead, but what in the world does Star Fox have to do with this?

New F-Zero will launch with Switch 2.

Just port the Gamecube one with online

So Kirbys dream buffet was just a blimp? Honestly though, they coexisted fine before.

@Liam_Doolan The series also has *two special tracks and a kart in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

@blindsquarel Because those are the two game series he had the most input on, and Nintendo tends to be more willing to give StarFox another try every few years.

To those wondering why Nintendo isn't making a new F-Zero anymore, this is why. The sales for a new entry had been dwindling.

@Snatcher Seriously, the Switch has such a vast player base that multiple racing games can and should co-exist on the platform. Mario Kart is casual but we lack a seriously high octane and competitive racer, and F-Zero would fit the bill perfectly.

@Serpenterror : On GBA, sure, (which had no less than three entries) but the GameCube entry sold 1.5 million copies, which surprised me as I wasn't expecting that level of success from a niche IP on an underperforming console.

So I can definitely see some potential in a Switch release, but the F-Zero games are also likely to be a lot more expensive to produce than Nintendo's other modest-performing IP, which may explain their reluctance.

Water is wet, and the sky is blue.

indie studios: "we miss F Zero, so we're all gonna publish multiple critically acclaimed F Zero clones"

Nintendo: "I'm going to pretend I didn't see that."

@Serpenterror F-Zero is one of those series where it has a vocal community. But those said people never supported it when the series was alive.

@Vordus
Yeah, but it made no sense to include Star Fox into a question about F Zero.

@Sisilly_G @MsJubilee My guess is that they may be looking to revive it at one point as a one time thing but decided not to. That one thing are probably the F-Zero tracks for Mario Kart 8 and the two F-Zero games for NSO. If not a lot of people show interest in those then likely a new entry is too risky to put production into. Still I don't see why they couldn't partner with Shin'en for just one entry, Fast RMX had proven that Shin'en knew what they were doing, that they are very familiar with the Switch hardware, how to get the game running at full 1080p stable smooth 60fps without much sacrifice. They even got the same announcer that Sega got for F-Zero AX/GX in the game too.

Yet many indie publishers can manage to do F-Zero style games at minimal cost, and if popularity is the key metric, why is Nintendo wasting time on Pikmin? Hardly ever a big seller.

The F-Zero solution is obvious: remake F-Zero X and turn it into an F-Zero Ultimate. It was the best of the series due to its fiendish course design and ethos on sustained speed, and is simply most deserving of an update. Then add another 40 tracks from the 16-bit era, GX and AX, plus include 4-player split screen and online, and include a track editor. The hard work is already done by using existing tracks, so it's just left to the graphics engine and models. Hand it to an external studio if Nintendo can't be bothered.

Makes sense, each F-Zero title sold less and less. By the way, bringing up 1-2 Switch is a really bad point; 1-2 Switch sold more than any F-Zero game.

Anyway, I still think Nintendo should put out an HD remaster of GX to gauge interest.

Unfortunately much of the videogame industry thinks the same way, some to a downright myopic degree. Like Sega, who cannot be bothered to remaster or release sequels to almost the entirety of their vast catalog of legacy IPs, especially their great RPGs like Shining Force and Skies of Arcadia, but instead constantly churns out more Sonic titles because it's their most popular franchise (to diminishing returns in terms of quality and fan satisfaction).

Nobody wins when only the "most popular/profitable/best-selling" franchises get constant support and hype from publishers. In fact that very thing played a huge role in the demise of E3, because so much annual attention was on Call of Battlefield: Madden's Creed and the countless dark, post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested, and/or kill count-obsessed games that looked and played like everything else; such presentations were losing gamers like me long before the advent of Directs and online announcements. Nintendo needs more than just Mario and Zelda to anchor their consoles (although to their credit they do a much, MUCH better job at that than either Sony or Microsoft's first-party efforts). The "supporting casts" of first-party games that help fill out personal libraries beyond just the "system sellers" are every bit as important because they actually drive variety, creativity, and originality. We need them...including a new F-Zero. There's more than enough room for more than one first-party racing game on Nintendo platforms.

People who are saying that each F-Zero sold less and less on each console aren't pointing out the fact that each console (gba the exception here) also sold less then the pervious one I could say the same with the Pikmin games but let's just see how that turns out here with number 4 on it's way hmm.

It's crazy how many franchises live or die by whether or not Miyamoto is still passionate about it. Just look at how hard they're promoting Pikmin 4.

Remember when Nintendo gave us (in no particular order) Mario Kart 64, Wave Race 64, F-Zero X, Kirby Air Ride, Mario Kart Double-Dash, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, Excite Truck, Diddy Kong Racing DS, Excitebike 64, Excitebike: World Rally, Wave Race: Blue Storm, 1080 Snowboarding, 1080 Avalanche, and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity all within the span of just over a decade? (1996-2007)? If we want to stretch it a little further, Mario Kart Wii would release the following year in 2008.

That's FIFTEEN first-party racing games from Nintendo in the span of 12 years, or more than one racing game a year, on average. I'm probably even missing some. Meanwhile, I don't think Nintendo has developed an original racing game since Mario Kart 8 back in 2014, almost a decade ago. That's insane. They've tried to fill the gap by promoting games like Fast RMX and Cruis'n Blast, but it's not the same as a new racing game using Nintendo's own original IP.

@Not_Soos Still gotta admit Cruisn ' Blast is a fun game though.

I’m not surprised, nor am I upset, but I am sad for those who genuinely love the series. Maybe some day guys.

@RobTheIII Those figures quoted seem to be incorrect. Nagoshi said GX sold 1.5 million worldwide, which it would have had to have been at least a million in order to get that Player’s Choice re-release. So despite GCN selling worse than N64, its respective F-Zero game sold better. Which makes sense because GX slaps.

@RobTheIII Never played it, but I've heard very good things. I've had it wishlisted for eons, but it just isn't a high priority for me. I don't know if I'll ever get around to playing it or not. I know this sounds really shallow of me, but I wish the game looked...prettier? I know, I'm a fake Nintendo fan who simps for graphics. You have permission to eliminate me.

The GameCube F Zero was great but obnoxiously difficult.

I think Nintendo needs to entice new people into their fringe IPs by taking advantage of other media. Have a charming short play before the next Mario movie starring whatever character they want to push. Put some quality cartoons on Netflix. Kids don't play games because they're good, they play them because they're familiar.

Yup they try to avoid genre overlap. It’s why Arms 2 never happened when Smash Ultimate is on the same console.

What about the GX remaster that’s been rumored? Is Nintendo holding it hostage like with WW and TP HD?

Well, fans still have Fast Racing Neo?

That kind of makes sense, though I do think both COULD coexist. Best move for them is to wait for next console gen, release f-zero FIRST and thennn release new mario kart like a year or so afterwards b/c mariokart is gonna sell great regardless and it gives fzero the chance to re-establish itself as a mainstay nintendo franchise.

@blindsquarel im guessing he means that miyamoto is more interested in star fox compared to f-zero since neither have an original switch game so star fox is more likely to get the revitalization treatment next

Just give me GX remastered like Metroid Prime puuuhhleeeeeeez. Or even just a lazy HD port, I don't care

Just remaster GX and add online for Christ sake.

I would prefer a Metroidvania with Captain Falcon.

Those of us who grew up on it, do we even want a new F-Zero? I don’t think my skills would even keep up with it. My arthritis might flare up during the game. The fan base has aged out.

New F-Zero game will be incredible with Nintendo Switch 2. İ think Nintendo will make a new F-Zero game 1 day but when İ do not know.

@EaglyPurahfan Riku is just Riku, common variety Everybody 1-2 Switch player. (I just noticed him now lol)

So why can other companies make similar titles but it's apparently not feasible for Nintendo? If it would cost too much then those other similar games from others wouldn't exist either. If it's because Mario Kart is their best selling racing franchise then they may as well never make another platforming game besides Mario games either, because none sell as well as Mario.

Come on, these reasons are full of baloney. I'm not buying it.

You know what I WOULD buy though? A new F-Zero game!

Meanwhile: cries in Wave Race

@Serpenterror A F-Zero game is not selling well. I have heard this few times. So it is true. Nintendo fans do not love Metroid Prime and F-Zero. İ think. Nintendo fans love Mario and Zelda more.

@luckyseven Wind waker and twilight princess hd on switch ARE NOT happening. Jeff Grubb is lying.

part of me also believes its comes with the pride of attempting to be a successful 1st party nintendo game. mk8d is the exception, but i think its hard to sell yourself as a $60 arcade-y party game youre meant to replay for high scores or rank mode, the content has to speak for itself. unless they wanna admit this is a b-grade series to be sold at $40-$50

their best bet would be to just remake or port over gx with online and test if theres still a market for it

@Bigmanfan I never believed him anyways, he’s gotten several things wrong like there being a mini Direct in this June along with Metroid Prime 2/3 getting remastered alongside 1. I’ve just heard of the Zelda rumors elsewhere, maybe they’ll eventually be on Switch but idk. Also nice to see another Splatoon fan! Shiver is my favorite out of Deep Cut but Frye and Big Man are cool too

Let me ask, do we even NEED a new f zero? I enjoy f zero as much as the next guy but I don't know. People begged for strikers for YEARS and hated the new one. I don't know. I just wish people would stop whining about stuff. That being said, where's Donkey Kong Country 6 Nintendo??????????????????

They should put an F-Zero planet on the next Metroid or Star Fox game. It would be cool to crash land on a planet and get involved in racing to buy parts for your ship, a bit like in a certain space opera. I would love that. Starlink did something like this, but I didn't like Starlink, the whole game was way too repetitive.

A new F-Zero would need a good online experience to succeed, so I'm not optimistic either.

Basically: Mario Kart sells a ton and we don't want to invest in F-Zero. This was obvious all along but at least we got an honest answer this time. Nintendo used to stand for something more than just making money. Let's see if they can recoup that posture at some point.

Just let it go. You thought it was cool at the time because you were a kid and you never saw racing hover cars before and you thought it was cool. But a new F-Zero game WILL NOT have the same impact on you. Also the graphics were cutting-edge at the time, which they wouldn't be now. Nintendo used F-Zero to show off their hardware capabilities. But those days are over, graphics don't really blow our minds anymore, and so a new F-Zero isn't really needed.

@TheBigBlue
HD Captain Falcon is already a thing.
Super Smash Ultimate

@IceClimbersMain
F-Zero GameCube plus F-Zero Arcade as there was a crossover experience with that!

@Decapre
Water is not wet.
Water makes things wet.

I wish there were more modes with no weapons.

Why not turn F-Zero into a different genre?
Star Fox has Star Fox adventures.
F-Zero is about a bounty hunter. Follow through on that.
It lends itself to an adventure style game just by story alone.

If they NEED to, do a crossover.
F-Zero + Samus/Metroid.
Heck, they can even do F-Zero+Samus/Metroid+Star Fox!

Nintendo has a way to lose NO money on a new F-Zero.
License out the game to a third party for a single game that would be Switch exclusive.

Said company would pay for all development costs and split profits with Nintendo.

Yet they'll keep churning out niche (and boring, in my opinion) Pikmin games, just because it's Miyamoto's baby 🙄

An online remake of F-Zero GX would be amazing and wouldn't cost a fortune to make.

@Not_Soos that’s 15 games across 5 consoles, and 11 of them weren’t first party developed - at best they’re first party franchises farmed out to second- or third- party devs, who all have more profitable things to focus on.

Other than the Mario Karts, only F-Zero X was fully first party.

@Yosher You know F-Zero is not the only futuristic hovercraft racing game that had been dormant for so long, we had not gotten a new WipEout game either and with Sony already shutting down the original studio that handles that franchise it looks like F-Zero's competitor is also dead. Nowadays it's just the low budget inspirational games (Redout, Xenon Racer, etc.) that got made, only once do we get a gem like Fast RMX but that comes once a generation only and there's no guaranteed that Fast RMX will get a follow-up either.

@FineLerv That's too bad for the kids these days. I had Bart's Nightmare as a kid and never finished it, but I finished A Link to the Past a dozen times because one of them was a good game and the other was not. Too bad for the kids these days who don't experience the pain of spending their allowance to rent trash license games to teach them about looking for good games over "familiar" games, like they did in my day.

And the franchise has never been a massive seller, I would much rather have a new Mario Kart game.

Aye Star Fox has had plenty of love the past 20 years......

I sometimes forget Nintendo is a tiny little indie company that didn't just open a park attraction in Universal Studios and they definitely didn't release a movie that printed money along with games that never stop selling.

Yes, F-Zero is just way too expensive of a game for poor little Nintendo to develop.

I'm not fussed about a reboot or new game as I never found them very fun to play. Okay if you don't mind banging into walls lots due to an over awkward control method.

Nintendo like to make games that you start as an amateur and end up feeling like a pro.

@Serpenterror Doesn't the existence of such lower budget titles show that it doesn't have to be super expensive though? FAST was also developed by an indie studio which proves that even further.

I just don't think these reasons stated here have to be true. Sure, a new F-Zero COULD cost a lot to make, but they can also make it cost less. If nothing else it would gauge current interest in the series, and if it does well enough they can make another one with a higher budget. Heck, they could re-release GX and use that as a gauge of they wanted to. That game still holds up exceptionally well to this day.

@dew12333 I feel the same, perfectly content w mute city and especially big blue, one of the best tracks ever.

I don't care if Mario Kart is the most popular Nintendo racing game; I hate popular opinion! I would actually love to buy Mario Kart 800 or whatever number it's up to now on my Switch, but I only have so much time and money for those expensive 1st party Nintendo games. A new F-Zero game, on the other hand, I would buy with no hesitation.

@Slinkoy1 too late, the comment above you had already posted a meme about it

Doesn’t matter if Mario kart is the most popular racing game Nintendo has… that hasn’t stopped them from making multiple platformers from different franchises

Just let Sega handle it. Make a couple of amiibo, limited edition pro-controller. Include online. It's not that complicated.
They can sell some season passes. Make ridiculous money. Then make an animated movie. And then comes the merchandise.
And there needs to be an F-Zero ride in themeparcs. Bye, bye Cars. Hello F-Zero.

Mute City and Big Blue in Mario Kart 8 was already the new F-ZERO game in disguise.

I'm not a huge F-Zero fan, nor racing games in general, but I don't buy it. How much of a "fortune" can it really take to make a game like F-Zero?

Surely not the $200 million plus Sony spends on masterpieces and technical marvels like TLoU part 2 and more so Horizon Forbidden West!

Besides, just with the earnings from the Super Mario Bros. Movie alone, Nintendo probably has enough of a fortune to make whatever they wanted, numerous times.

Its not like they ever lose money on console sales either, its always pure profit. Nintendo could also easily increase their already immense fortune by just bringing any number of it's older games to Switch, even with simple ports.

Now if it's more along the lines of making a new F-Zero just wouldn't sell well enough to recoup development costs or at least turn a big enough profit, then fine, but just say that. 🙄

Personally a new Starfox or Pilot wings would be even better. I'm not keen on open world games but Pilot wings could be amazing done that way. Some amazing missions could be created.

See, this is why I think they need to retool the F-Zero series. Instead of just making it a straight-up racing game, they need to make it more of an action-adventure game with a driving mechanic, in the vein of Grand Theft Auto.

In many ways, F-Zero could be Nintendo's take on the GTA series, similar to how Splatoon and Metroid Prime are their takes on the shooter genre (with the latter being first-person shooters), or how Super Smash Bros. is their take on the fighting game genre.

It wouldn't just be races, but also chases, infiltration, exploration, and more. There would be different vehicles to pilot, and you could even walk on-foot. In terms of story, it would be interesting to see Captain Falcon in his early years, seeing him become the bounty hunter he is today. They could call it F-Zero: Rise of the Falcon.

@Serpenterror nice figures...kind of shows how small the vocal minority really is. I doubt the majority of Switch owners even know what F-Zero is.

I'd love to see it again, the visual style of the MK8 stages was enough of a teaser as to how nice it could look. But yeah Everybody 1-2-Switch would easily outsell it.

I think the same than Nintendo. Mario Kart does as much as F-Zero. I don't feel like it's necesary.

But on the other hand, Mario Kart 8 F-Zero tracks (and soundtracks xd) made me to want to play a new F-Zero.

I think they should revive F-Zero with the 64DD expansion idea, with new gen technology. And apply more physics based gameplay with crafting parts Breath of the Wild style. But this could fit Stunt Race FX too I guess xD

Give me a break.. It doesn't need any "grand new idea." It's an anti-gravity racer. You give it beautiful modern HD graphics, great courses and some great music. Give it some well designed online racing like Mario Kart 8 and you're good to go. Also, Mario Kart and F-Zero co-existed just fine for years. Both series made their debut on the SNES and continued on together on the various home consoles and handhelds, no prob. It wasn't until the Wii era that Nintendo decided for no good reason to just suddenly abandon F-Zero. Get bent with this nonsense Nintendo.

@Clyde_Radcliffe Now now, let's not bring Pikmin into this. It's only had 4 games (plus 1 spinoff that nobody really cared about) in the span of 22 years. There was a 9 year gap between Pikmin 2 and 3, and a 10 year gap between Pikmin 3 and 4. The way I see it, that's hardly "churning out Pikmin games". If anything, F-Zero had more games in the span of 14 years than Pikmin has had in its lifetime (6 F-Zero games vs Pikmin's 5). A better comparison would be Xenoblade or Fire Emblem (because we've had more than enough of both of those series on Switch).

Also, in case you weren't aware, Pikmin fans practically went insane during the wait for Pikmin 4. The feelings of hopelessness and fear of the series being abandoned were very strong, and we were left feeling like that for years. As an F-Zero fan, you should be more than familiar with that feeling. The reveal of Pikmin 4 last year was a blessing for the entire fandom. Maybe think twice before antagonising them.

No Nintendo hates F-Zero because it doesn't sell

What a terrible and lazy excuse!!! Pathetic

Please Nintendo, what a load of rubbish.
While you're there ignoring F Zero, Waverace and 1080 I'm going to sit here and ignore your excuse.
I would buy a remake of F Zero X, Waverace or 1080 in a heartbeat.

You're talking about releasing a game on one of the most popular consoles ever yet you can't see it making money?

Yeah ok.

@JohnnyMind That sounds like the best bet to be fair, a sensible way to gauge interest.

@Axelay71 An open world Pilotwings would be really cool!

@HamKnight yes I was thinking about it last week. Playing Zelda Botw thinking how a Pilot wings would look great using that engine.

Nintendo thinks about F-zero do not deserve a new game in a console with 125 million sales.

So...RIP...F-zero!

I won´t buy next Mario Kart, Nintendo.

@Rykdrew I don't think they read this site.

@ATaco Just because they made a bunch of money on other stuff, doesn't mean they should waste money on an unprofitable project. That's not how businesses work.

Just do a remastered release of GX.

Being an F-Zero fan is rough.

@luckyseven I think 99 percent of leakers are just full of crap. Porting a port always seemed like a very un-nintendo thing to do. Also, big man is the king. Best character Nintendo has ever given us.

Yeah, pretty much what we expected. Mario Kart already sells bazillion copies, no need for F-ZERO from a business point of view.

Sigh...

@Bigmanfan
Yes yes of course, Nintendo is living from game to game. They can't risk releasing even one possible flop (even though that's not guaranteed). Better to just not take any chances and release another 3 Mario games instead.

@Bigmanfan I can't see them investing in a game just because a handful of vocal commenters on some niche websites demand it whilst stamping their feet. Maybe if they had a bit of their annual budget to use up but they probably already did that with Everybody 1-2-Switch.

@blindsquarel he helped create both Star Fox and F-Zero. So, it applies as Star Fox gets a title every now and again (not to that late-90s to early-00s golden age), but F-Zero has been dormant since the GBA I think. So... Yeah it applies to why he was asked the question as someone who contributes to both franchises.

I'd settle for more F-Zero Mario Kart tracks at this point since the first two were so good, shame there haven't been any in the expansion pass.

@Yosher Releasing a remastered port of F-Zero GX is the safest thing to do but if they want a dev that could get the job done in terms of making a true F-Zero game happen it should be Shin'en. Heck a lot the dev people that once work at Sega's Amusement Vision studio on F-Zero AX/GX are also at Shin'en. All Nintendo had to do was get a partnership with them and collab and it'll be a done deal.

F zero didn’t sell and Mario Kart (and part of its draw is mario characters) replaced it. Aside from a small handful of diehard fans no one would care if FZero got a new game. And that means the franchise isn’t a safe investment but as others have pointed out futuristic racing is dead/dying. Mainstream gamers want realism and they got it for most games. It will be a while before there is a pivot back.

I am too disappointed to comment

F-Zero 99 for NSO is the only chance for a new F-Zero game.

@KryptoniteKrunch The series selling less doesn't surprise me. For me, I actually don't enjoy the 16-bit fzero games on snes and gba, but Fzero X and GX I absolutely love, and I wonder if there's correlation of the sales to how I feel. A new game or remake at $40 or $60 is an automatic buy for me.

I can only speak for myself. I would buy F-Zero and therefore I would sign up for online again.

Too many things to consider here. Apart from the diminishing sales, Miyamoto seemingly personal indifference towards the franchise and the exit of Imamura from Nintendo, the biggest point I think is...

The futuristic racing genre appeal if just far too limited for a big AAA release in the current era of videogames. Kart and mascots racers have their all family appeal, and racing games with real cars always also are able cater to both sim (Gran Turismo, Forza, Grid) and arcade (Cruisin, Burnout, Asphalt) enthusiasts. But futuristic racers...they lack that universal appeal. There is a reason why the last couple Wipeout games were relegated to Sony portables and why newer releases in the genre are indie or download only projects. Futuristic racers is just too serious for people that want a funny zany racer...and too funny and zany for people that want a serious racer. Being in between both spectrums, it ends losing both.

The much lauded Fast RMX game is a good example. In my many years with the Switch, playing dozens of multiplayer games with tons of friends and family alike, spending hours with games like Smash, Mario Kart, Clubhouse games, Mario Maker 2, Mario 3D World, Runbow, Goose Game, Overcooked, Moving Out, Lovers, Piku Niku, Asphalt 9, Ring Fit, Labo VR, Art of Balance, Heave Ho, Mario Party and a long etc....I have NEVER not even once, convinced anyone: long time gamers, casuals, hardcores, kids, teens, adults, women or men to play more than a single multiplayer match in Fast RMX. It just doesn't have that broad appeal, and no, I don't think putting C. Falcon or Samurai Goroh mug alongside the "cars" at the selection screen would that much difference with your average Joe. Which is a shame, because I do enjoy playing Fast RMX alone, just as I enjoyed F-Zero X and GX before it, but I have to do so alone.

I can't eye roll hard enough. I've put F-Zero out of my mind. Fan or not I'm over it. It's a racing game with an exceptionally fast gimmick, futuristic setting, hover car dynamics, and silly memorable comic book-like characters-- It's not the hardest thing to do or make, and with today's online world, it seems fitting that THAT would BE the grand idea, but alas. Though there's decent imitators out there, they're just not F-Zero.

Boooooo!
At least X is on VC. But F-Zero has such a great roster of weirdos…Nintendo, think of the merch! Who wouldn’t want a Mr. EAD pencil topper?!?

They could completely change how F-Zero works imo. Like make it a racer, but with a whole new thing added to it making it not just a racer.

There is maybe one good F Zero game. There are plenty of great racing games out there. There is no reason for F zero to get another game. Just make a few cars available as DLC for Mario Kart to appease the 1,000 or so fans clamoring for it

I’ve given up on seeing a new Fzero game.
I love Fzero but I’ve never actually finished any of them so I’ll just keep playing the old ones.

This is most likely also one of the reasons, why Nintendo hasn't made a new Diddy Kong Racing since that terrible DS-Remake. That is sadly one of the downsides with Nintendo, if Mario gets everything: platformers, RPGs, Kart Racers, sports games, and all the experimental games, than you really have no use for many other franchises. Why make a new DKC if Mario can get a new 2D platformer? Why make a new Diddy Kong Racing or F-Zero if we can just add new tracks to MK8? Heck, even Splatoon was at one point almost a Mario game.

Mario is their most popular platforming franchise but they still make Kirby games. Terrible excuse

Maybe they just don't want to make a new Fzero or remake GX. They don't have to make a new game for every old franchise if they don't want to or feel it would be financially viable.

Just port GX, it still looks great, is an amazing game, and I would think a lot of people haven't played it at all.

There should be a rule/law about IPs.
If a company doesn't do something with an IP for a certain amount of years, then they either lose the IP; or another company can make a full game with the IP, but has to split the profits of the game.
And it doesn't count if it's part of an ensemble game like Smash or Kart.
It needs to be a full game.

A port of GX would fund a new game because I'm certain everyone would buy 10 copies each to ensure a new game.

As many people have said already, just port GX to Switch and add online multiplayer to it. F-Zero deserves a chance on one of the best selling consoles ever.

And unlike many people here have said... no, Mario Kart is not a replacement for F-Zero. Mario Kart and F-Zero are two completely different games. It's almost like there can differences inside the racing genre itself: realistic, wacky kart racer, hyper fast futuristic, etc.

I always suspected this was the reason. In Nintendo’s eyes, they games are too similar. It’s a shame though, there’s definitely room for both.

Get Sega to remaster the GX / AX add a few bells and whistles in and there you go. Heck package that as SX for special edition / switch edition and it’ll sell - add online leaderboards and replays and it’ll be enough even if no online heck I’ll buy 2 copies just make it

I'll say this until I'm blue in the face: captain falcon is a bounty hunter as well, why not try a different genre with his bounty hunting skills as the main focus. Whether that's an FPS, an RTS, an RPG, I don't care. A spin off is better than simply saying that racing is all f zero is meant to be and that mariokart has that niche filled.

Just add Captain Falcon, Samus Aran, Fox McCloud, and Kirby as playable characters with their own unique karts to Mario Kart 8.

No need to make a new F-Zero. We've got F-Zero stages in Mario Kart 8, just let us play as the Captain in the game (rather than as a Mii cosplaying as him).

I suggest 3 other class Nintendo characters because Miis, Link, Villager, Isabelle, and the Inklings are in the game, and because each have a great concept for racing here — Fox in his Arwing (and also standing in for his father's cameo in F-Zero), Samus in her Hunter-class Gunship, and Kirby on his Warp Star a la Air Ride!

@Sisilly_G Um… Maximum Velocity sold 1.5 million copies. Not GX.

@AtlanteanMan Explain why SEGA has a Yakuza game coming out soon, why they’re still putting out Puyo Puyo games, why their classic Genesis games are on Steam, and why Shenmue got AN ANIME last year then.

Yeah, I thought so.

@Ruler-Of-All-Evil 1) Yakuza and Puyo Puyo are among the very few IPs that Sega bothers to continue releasing anymore out of dozens upon dozens of legacy IPs ranging from obscure to iconic. 2) Genesis compilations are a dime a dozen and are on pretty much every platform. Where are the Saturn, Dreamcast, Arcade Coin-op, and other compilations? Where are any NEW iterations of so many of those games, Genesis or otherwise? 3) Anime and films in no way count as games, and besides, Shenmue 3 required a Kickstarter to even exist because Sega wouldn't do the honors thrmselves. Ditto the remakes of titles like Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead or the new Streets of Rage 4; all tossed off onto third-parties to varying results.

Do you have an answer as to why Sega sent out surveys at the beginning of each of the past two years asking what legacy IPs consumers wanted to see, only to double down on Sonic, Sonic, Sonic afterward (Origins, Frontiers, Superstars, Sonic movies, etc.)?

Yeah. I thought so. But see my original post for the obvious answer; those surveys are just empty lip service to fans of other Sega franchises because Sonic is "more profitable/popular".

@Serpenterror Yes, I would LOVE to see them try to make an F-Zero game! That probably would be smaller scale (probably a bit less character focused than GX was), but I fully believe they'd be up for the task. The FAST games were pretty awesome, even if the color change mechanic never fully clicked with me and that's why I never saw them to 100%. I did play them a fair amount though and seeing them do a stab at F-Zero would be amazing.

@HalBailman Those games are not up to the standard Nintendo would want for a new F Zero. But that is not even the issue, the issue is that Nintendo simply does not have any resources to spare on F Zero. It isn't like they have a studio coasting about that could work on it. All of their studios are busy on projects they consider a better investment.

@EaglyPurahfan
Imamura mentioned how developing F-Zero would cost a lot, whereas developing Everybody 1-2 Switch probably cost about as much as a large coffee from Starbucks.

@Jam78 I’m sure there’s plenty of people within Nintendo who would want to see it come back or if not internally there’s no shortage of teams who would jump at the chance to make a new game. This is an executive decision for sure.

As for not seeing it as financially viable, why? It’s not like GX did horribly- it sold over 1.5 million and that was on one of their worst selling consoles. Make a new game or even a GX remake with all the features we’ve never seen in an F-Zero like online and leaderboards and see how that does. If it’s great but it flops then sure, then there’s a reason not to continue the franchise but without them trying again I don’t see why they keep it dead. If it really is because of Mario Kart then that’s baffling, it isn’t a competitor to F Zero and it never has been. Very different games.

@Switch_Pro They could find an external studio to work on it. They do it all the time, MercurySteam with Metroid for example. Even GX wasn’t made in house.

That's actually a real shame and unfortunately understandable.

Though projects like Star Fox come to mind, they tried their hand at that? Not a racer though, I suppose, hence the decision

I wouldn't mind a remaster of GX though please?

By that reasoning why make Kirby and Yoshi games when we have 2D and 3D Mario already.

@Switch_Pro Blasphemy! F-Zero X is totally up to standard. It just needs a makeover. The tracks and the racing are still so fiendishly good, and they were winding through dense cities, it would add to the exhilaration.

To those still suggesting GX should be ported or (cough, cough) remastered, go play both it and X again. It's a joke of a game, with so many tracks wrecked by Sega gimmickry.

So we can't have anything new because it would be expensive.

...this industry sucks these days.

@HalBailman
I have played both of them with my friends over many, many years and I prefer GX. It would be nice to witness a western release for F-Zero X Expansion Kit though. Having a 3D track editor in a game is something Nintendo hasn't really tried since. Heck, neither F-Zero games with a track editor (X Expansion Kit or Climax) didn't get a western release.

@JayJ F-Zero is not new at all. It's even older than Mario Kart.

@AtlanteanMan Oh, did I forget to mention? SEGA’s making a new Samba de Amigo this year.

@larryisaman Correction: 692 THOUSAND.

What a poor excuse to not make a game. I would play F-Zero or Ten Eighty way more than Mario Kart. I sure miss the N64 days.

@Serpenterror There's a reason why...
F-Zero on GBA graphically was SNES and the Gamecube stats seem off. "Nagoshi said in a 2018 Edge interview that F-Zero GX sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide." That's more than the N64.

@glaemay I was talking about the prospect of a new F-Zero game. I think we're all aware of how there's old F-Zero games.

It's alright, nintendo would make a barebones version of F-Zero then blame the fans that it doesn't sell.

@Ruler-Of-All-Evil Samba de Amigo is more than welcome. It's also one game. Only took them 20 years since the original. 25 since Shining Force III, 20 since Skies of Arcadia. The list goes on (and is a LONG one). And how many Sonic games, sequels, spin-offs, and compilations have been released or announced over that same period? And how many of those have been of middling quality because Sega knew they could phone it in and fans would buy up their "most popular/profitable/best-selling" franchise anyway?

Sega used to be arguably the most prolific and innovative videogame publisher in the industry, and they made a ton of incredible games across pretty much every genre, games that made them a household name before Sonic even existed. Their own corporate mismanagement caused their eventual collapse and cessation from making consoles. When it was announced that they were going third-party, many gamers, myself included, were eager to see all the same originality, innovation, and variety we had been accustomed to on all platforms. Instead we got inundated with Sonic and obligatory Genesis compilations each generation by a company that had circled the wagons and decided to "play it safe".

If I come across as harsh in my criticisms of Sega, it's because I remember what they used to be capable of and believe that, with a proper kick in the pants, they could be again. Maybe I don't matter as a single consumer but I do vote with my wallet and support non-Sonic releases in the hope that just maybe Sega might give more of their legacy IPs another chance, especially their incredible RPGs. And that support includes the likes of Panzer Dragoon Remastered, House of the Dead Remake, and yes, Samba de Amigo.

We both want Sega to succeed as a company; the difference is that Sonic fans can count on another installment of their blue mascot with the certainty of the Sun rising in the east. Gamers like me who want to see other legacy franchises can't afford to be subtle or silent, especially as years of unanswered requests have turned into decades.

@Serpenterror You're not wrong, but I think the thing with F-Zero is the graphics have the potential to be incredible. The Gamecube game looked great, but the system didn't sell that much. Creating a new game on Switch (or its successor) could bring in amazing graphics and a lot more players. Judging the series on GBA games isn't fair.

F-Zero X was one of the most impressive N64 game but F-Zero GX was perfection, unforgiving and it required skillz to play it. That's why you wont see the franchise on the 25FPS tablet.

@AtlanteanMan Well, I am both a gamer and a Sonic fan. I do like obscure games and popular games alike after all.

sort of like how Xbox won't make a new Gears because Halo is popular?

No?

What nonsense

Agreed but Cruis'n Blast exists Nintendo even if you outsourced it to another developer. What about Wave Race/1080 games for those sports. There is no Mario Snowboarding or Jet Ski games unless Winter sports of the Olympics but those are Sega licensing rights for the Olympic games. I get sales but also 'trying' with a smaller game. HD version. A collection but that's a lot more effort. Or a focus on them on the virtual console/Switch Online even for challenges.

Besides arcade racers have kind of sucked in certain ways (depends from game to game), MTX, content handling or even sales to communicate things to customers (or you can blame sim fans for being too picky on realism so we can't get much better stuff because oh it's realistic well sometimes arcadey games are fun and also hard as nails too and without them we lack creativity and get more bland games and bad execution and well paying too much for live service racing games so it's why I went to Bike games then Car games for that reason because the car ones kind of suck right now and I'm not really into Kart Racers either the big ones are fine and the others are for those audiences license and also not always very good either) so some good ones would be nice to have.

Why not an F Zero mobile game hmmmm. Sony pushed WipEout there. I don't like it but at least they are doing something with it (even if I think mobile is too crowded, the manager approach compared to other manager games phone or console is not a good idea and besides Redout, Fast Racing and more are doing well with their followings) besides a director/writer thinking about a WipEout movie. Both things I don't know what to think about the WipEout series but still.

Still nothing will match F Zero's speed, characters, charm, difficulty and offering of Z Gravity as Mario Kart doesn't really do it for me at all in general or the multiple vehicles/Zero G parts either.

Even Wave Race is fun. Just something in the racing space please. I mean on Switch already I'm sticking to things like Gear Club Unlimited 2 and Wreckfest. More arcadey car games because I don't want to play a kart racer and I have a few like OnRush, Gravel, Redout and such on Xbox/PS4 or still on the look out for a few. Even Hotwheels on Wii for example not sure on Unleashed.

it's because f-zero gx and f-zero ax are already the zenith of racers. however, the zenith is polluted with grifters and gamblers. any sequel won't be zenith anymore and would handle the same as previous entries - since f-zero is a brain exercise at its core. logic follows that dedicated racers looking for the best would return to the gamecube to play this entry.

@Serpenterror yeah that's definitely the only logical reason other than they don't have any good ideas, they should just admit it. But spending millions on 1 2 Switch thinking anyone really cares is just funny to me, actually hilarious. Especially when a new Wario party game is coming THIS YEAR and is what everyone would want from a party game besides Mario Party mini games.

Just a port/remaster of F-Zero GX with online multiplayer is all I ask.

@falkyn So essentially, any F-Zero after GX is cursed with Melee syndrome?

@Chunkboi79 This was genuinely a fear of mine, especially during the Wii era. Nintendo really loved to keep their budgets and dev time to a minimum, and it seemed doubtful that they'd give a new F-Zero the amount of content and budget that it deserved.

Now, between the scope and polish Nintendo has shown in some of their HD games, and learning that Amusement Vision still makes good games under a different name, I'm somewhat more confident that a new F-Zero could be up to par.

But of course, we now have the issue of whether the series will ever come back at all, seeing as it has been a full 20 years since the last main entry, it's passing Kid Icarus for (as far as I know) the longest drought that a Nintendo series has ever had, and Nintendo apparently still hates it.

@HalBailman You misunderstood my post. I am saying games like Fast Racing Neo are not as good/high budget as F Zero would have to be to be a viable product. What is viable or even a great success for an indie studio wouldn't even be a blip in the radar for Nintendo.

@smoreon melee... f zero gx... i'd add ikaruga (prototype mode) to that list as well.

@Switch_Pro It doesn't need to be high budget. In fact, F-Zero is traditionally a poor seller, so that's why my thoughts are just to remaster F-Zero X more to shut us fans up! The core aspects are there, and something the standard of Fast RMX is good enough for me. I just want to feel the rush again!

@Luffymcduck That's ok. All my friends much prefer F-Zero X for the reasons I mentioned. Different people like different games. For myself and my friends, the racing and tracks are just more fiendish in X, and it's a game more deserving of an update. There's also another solution neither of us have considered: do both!

@HalBailman It might be good enough for you, but it would most likely not be good enough for Nintendo is my point. They wouldn't want to just appease current fans, the majority of buyers would be people that have never bought an F-Zero game before. I still think a remaster of GX would be the best first step, in fact I am confident that this will happen.

@Switch_Pro Oh no, it would satiate many fans! Like you say, Nintendo is the problem. They are of the view nothing more can be done with F-Zero. That's where they are wrong. You remake F-Zero X into a modern version and you've already done much more than more. GX already looked good, so is something you just port, like with Super Mario Sunshine. In fact, there's already rumours of that so you might get your wish.

@CharlieGirl And you know none of those "critically acclaimed" F-Zero Clones don't last long enough to have sequels.

@blindsquarel The idea behind mentioning Star Fox is that no one at Nintendo seems interested in F-Zero. Miyamoto's invested in Star Fox, so down the line another Star Fox game will likely be made because Miyamoto wants another one, despite Star Fox Zero's middling sales practically killing the franchise.

Same reason Metroid was mentioned: It's a series that has a ton of interest by Western developers, and at the same time, that series has Yoshio Sakamoto and Kensuke Tanabe invested in it. Sakamoto was behind Super Metroid and Metroid Dread, as well as Other M. Tanabe was behind the entire Prime series, including Federation Force.

But F-Zero? No one's looking at it. There's no new ideas for it, Mario Kart is more popular, and it's highly expensive to make in terms of graphics because it's like Metroid and unlike anything else which experiments or has cartoony art styles to cut back on costs.

@larryisaman @Zimon Kirby's made by an entirely different company though, so its not a very good example.

At the end of the day, while I don't believe a new F-Zero isn't being made thanks to Mario Kart, I do believe that the series just wouldn't sell enough to have a new one be worth making.

You can't convince me that if Nintendo announced a new F-Zero, it would sell. We have had a dime a dozen F-Zero clones since the Wii, absolutely none of them had the staying power to scrap up sequels or make their games into established franchises.

But wait, I hear you say "Just port GX onto the Switch and give it Online/All you need is to give it Online and it will be great!" Yeah... Mario Kart 8's Online may be good compared to other Online ventures, but I don't think F-Zero's increased speed, which likely would be faster than Mario Kart's 200cc would convince you that you're actually racing with friends when someone glitches out. You need more to bring the game to life than simply give it Online.

@Tobunari It’s a perfectly fine example. They only get made because Nintendo are willing to fund and publish them. If Nintendo said they don’t want to make more Kirby games then none would get made regardless of whether HAL wants to make them or not.

@larryisaman Not really. HAL owns the majority of the franchise, they can do what they want because the series is their character. Nintendo owns quite a bit of Kirby, enough to put him on a corporate banner (which you don't see with Pokemon), but not enough to forbid Kirby from appearing in anything that HAL develops outside of Nintendo's reach - like say, mobile games.

Case in point, when Activision/Toys For Bob approached Nintendo about having Nintendo cameos in Skylanders Supershargers, they expressed interest in characters like Fox McCloud, and Kirby.

Nintendo said no for both, but for different reasons: Fox because Star Fox Zero was approaching at the time, and Kirby because he was partially owned by HAL Labs, and couldn't license his use. So they went with Donkey Kong and Bowser.

https://gamingtrend.com/news/kirby-and-fox-were-both-considered-to-appear-in-skylanders-superchargers/

So while Nintendo may publish Kirby, it's still up to HAL when/if there's a Kirby game on the horizon.

@larryisaman To add onto that, Mario and Kirby are Apples to Apples. Both are relatively easy to play and accessible, if something Mario has doesn't sit well with you, Kirby likely has the solution. If Kirby doesn't work, then there's Mario.

Just because Mario's the mascot doesn't mean that Kirby's just going to drop from the face of the earth (especially since he's under HAL's ownership) especially since there's a ton of audience overlap.

Mario Kart to F-Zero though are Apples to Oranges.

Mario Kart is easy to pick up and play, a normal person could win a race even on the highest speed and difficulty if they're decent and lucky with the items.

F-Zero might be easier on the lower difficulties, but the game gets a bit hectic and the higher skill ceiling to play and play good is what inhibits people from continuing with the game. Some people like a challenge, but that's not the majority who just want to play for a brief fun time.

Hence, the lower pool of players.

@Tobunari Nintendo owns 50% of Warpstar Inc., the Kirby equivalent of the Pokémon company; HAL the other 50%. HAL can’t just go and do what they want with the franchise without Nintendo’s approval and vice versa.

F Zero and Mario Kart being apples to oranges is exactly why both can exist in tandem and not have one relegated to obscurity because “we already have a racing game series.”

Reasons why F-Zero would, in fact, sell well:

1) Having only one racing franchise is like saying Zelda should be the only RPG or Mario should be the only 2D (or 3D) platformer. That’s such an ignorant argument.

2) Mario Kart and F-Zero, while both are racing games, couldn’t be further apart. One appeals to the general population, the other appeals to serious gamers.

3) Mario Kart 8 is nine years old. Nine. How much longer are we going to milk this cow? How about something new? How about something that isn’t Mario Kart? How about creating a new experience and really standing behind it? How about actually listening to your consumers?

4) Previous F-Zero sales were down because of their release dates and systems. F-Zero released along side Super Mario World, F-Zero X released less than 2 months before Ocarina of Time and F-Zero GX released the same year as Mario Kart: Double Dash. The N64, despite what you may think, didn’t sell well. The GameCube also didn’t sell well. They barely marketed F-Zero. Of course F-Zero sales were going to be down. Again, another stupid argument.

5) It doesn’t take much effort to think of a new game design. You have your arcade mode, online mode and story mode. Netherrealm did a great job with stories to fighting games. We can’t come up with something for racing games? No need to overthink it. F-Zero clones never took off because they either: A) Sucked or B) They were never pushed (i.e. FAST RMX).

6) It’s been way too long and more and more people want F-Zero. Just start with a GX port. And no, having online with fast racing speeds isn’t an issue. The person who said that in the comments doesn’t know what they are talking about. Not to mention online wouldn’t be the only- or even the prominent feature- of GX remastered, let alone a new game on a new system.

7) Nintendo needs to know their audience and market the game accordingly. Saying there wouldn’t be much of a fan base is stupid and wrong. Just because YOU don’t care about the franchise, it doesn’t mean no one else does.

8) A new F-Zero wouldn’t cost a fortune to make and it wouldn’t have poor sales, so long as you market it and not release it along side other big titles. We’re talking about a racing game, here. I think people need to calm down.

9) People are asking for it. People are literally asking Nintendo for it. They aren’t asking for 37 Kirby games or 91 Pokemon games. They are asking for ONE F-Zero game.

Any F-Zero would sell if they marketed it. And maybe not every Nintendo game has to be “for everyone.” Maybe it is ok to have a tough game that appeals to more experienced gamers. I think playing it safe is the wrong thing to do. I think Nintendo is out of touch with their consumers. GX remastered may work as a setup for a new game, but a new F-Zero game should not be released until a new, more powerful system arrives. GX would work perfectly well on the Switch, however.

@larryisaman When Activision asked Nintendo for permission to use characters for their Skylanders Superchargers game in 2015, they wanted Peach, Fox, and Kirby.

Peach wasn't selected because Nintendo thought Peach wouldn't fit and brand accuracy and all that.

Fox wasn't added because Star Fox Zero was their next big game at the time.

Kirby wasn't selected because according to Activision, Nintendo doesn't fully own Kirby, so they couldn't allow him to be added.

Hence why they went with Donkey Kong and Bowser, primarily because Nintendo said they were villains.

It's not a hard article to look up either. So Kirby isn't under Nintendo's direct control for them to do whatever they want.

@Tobunari Blast from the past but whatever- what does that have to do with anything? All that tells me is that they needed HAL’s say so as well, so either HAL were happy for Kirby to be in and Nintendo weren’t or vice versa. Neither party can just do what they want with the franchise, they need to agree.