The reveal of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 unsurprisingly blew up immediately upon release, showcasing the new console’s features alongside some exciting gameplay of what appears to beMario Kart 9. Even though little was explicitly revealed about the successor to the Switch orMario Kart 9itself,the limited trailer has already caused wild speculation from fans over its potential features. While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, one likely addition could be a massive change to theMario Kartformula.
Setting itself apart from the competition with vibrant visuals, fun-filled party mechanics, and a wide range of accessibility options,Mario Kartstill stands as a staple of the racing game genre for good reason.Mario Kart 9already has plenty of potential when introducing new gameplay mechanics or content to experience, but it could also be a great time to shine more light on somewell-deserved Mario characters. Even if the newest installment has fewer characters than its predecessor,Mario Kart 9will still need a sizable roster to fill its newly rumored feature.
24 Players Races Could Drastically Shake Up The Mario Kart Experience
Adding Even More Chaos To The Beloved Arcade Racer
There was plenty to unpack fromMario Kart 9’s limited debut on the Switch 2, butsome fans likeThe_Rimeaon X quickly noted that there seems to be room for 24 players based on the track’s starting line. If this wasn’t evidence enough, other users quickly pointed out that the trailer visibly showcases each of the 24 characters competing on the track in the same trace, which further confirmed this exciting new mechanic.
Given that the Switch 2 aims to be a next-generation leap over its predecessor, doubling the player count would be an easy way to showcase its high-powered technology.
An expanded lobby size forMario Kart 9would allow for larger-scale tracks that offer even more routes and off-roading capabilities to shake up the experience, although it would be tough to balance its more chaotic elements of mystery box power-ups like the blue shell.
Regardless of how players feel about the added chaos of 12 additional players in each race,24-player races are likely to be one of the major mechanics around whichMario Kart 9will revolve its additional features. With this groundbreaking addition being prominently shown in this limited trailer forMario Kart 9, it only boosts speculation about what other exciting features Nintendo is saving for a full breakdown of the sequel with their upcoming Nintendo Direct. The newest Nintendo Direct may even confirm someleaked character conceptsthat would add some beloved fan favorites for the first time.
Mario Kart Has Struggled To Stand Out In Recent Years
Lacking The Excitement Of Past Mario Kart Installments
WhileMario Kart 8 Deluxewas a fantastic upgrade from its Wii U version, without including the mobile gameMario Kart Tour,the iconic racing franchise hasn’t seen an original sequel in over a decade. While the ability to takeMario Karton the go once more, thanks to the portability of the Switch inMario Kart 8 Deluxe,was a welcome addition, it was a bit disappointing that the console never saw the release of a full sequel.
It’s more than likely that the limited hardware of the original Switch pushed back the development forMario Kart 9, as there wasn’t much room to improve on the quality and mechanics featured inMario Kart 8 Deluxeon the same system.
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Even the leap from the Wii orMario Kart 7to the Wii U withMario Kart 8itself didn’t revolutionize the gameplay experience too significantly, with the Wii version offering arguably the biggest changes to the series. With Mario Kart Wii’s introduction of half-pipes, bikes, and the staple trick system, andMario Kart 7’s gliding and underwater segments,the minor gameplay improvements ofMario Kart 8were somewhat lackluster in comparison.
Despite the absence of revolutionary new mechanics,Mario Kart 8’s gravity changes, new tracks, new items, and enhanced visuals were all more than welcome upgrades that improved the already elevated gameplay of its predecessors.
Mario Kart Is The Perfect Launch Title To Show Off The Switch 2’s Hardware
Revolutionizing The Mario Kart Formula With New Technology
Even if fans will have to wait a few months to learn more about the exciting newMario Kartentry,the supposed improvement in the Switch 2’s hardware is incredibly promising for the future of the franchise. Given the lack of barriers, the presence of a pitstop, and the off-roading upgrades seen on each vehicle in the newest trailer,the rumors thatMario Kart 9could introduceopen-world gameplayto the series may be more likely than ever.
Even without the addition of open-world functionality, off-roading could be a greatly expanded mechanic inMario Kart 9, taking advantage of larger maps and higher lobby counts to create a replayable experience with more unique routes to uncover than ever.
The supposed improvement in the Switch 2’s hardware is incredibly promising for the franchise’s future.
Having a newMario Karttitle released on a next-generation Nintendo console,there’s an excellent chance forMario Kart 9to add somehighly requested featuresfans have been waiting for years to see, like a track-building mechanic, for instance. While Nintendo might have a hard time introducing game-changing features while balancing the coreMario Kartexperience fans have grown to love over the years, it’s bound to be an exciting release for the series.
Hopefully,Mario Kart 9will still allow players to adjust the number of players to their hearts' content with new customization settings. However, only time will tell if this option will be available in the full release.
