Nintendo Switch 2 Rumors have been circulating for some time, but I'm much more excited about the rumors that Mario Kart 9 will be released alongside the new console. So far, nothing has been confirmed about the Switch 2. In fact, we don't even know if Nintendo will actually call it that (although if I had to guess based on the names of previous consoles, they wouldn't). That said, a potential Mario Kart 9 the launch is not the most far-fetched idea. Even if this doesn't happen at launch, a new Mario Kart seems likely.
It's been a while since Mario Kart 8 has been released, so it seems like the time is right for a new installment in the series, and the launch of a new console seems like the perfect opportunity for it to be released. As a longtime fan of the series, a new Mario Kart game would be huge news for me, and honestly a lot more exciting than the announcement of a new console. After all, what's interesting about a new console without knowing what games will be on it?
It's been 10 years since the last Mario Kart game
Mario Kart 8 was originally released in 2014
The Nintendo Switch was the first major Nintendo console since the Super Nintendo that didn't have its own new Mario Kart game. Although I managed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in 2017, this was simply an updated version of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, originally released in 2014. This 10-year gap is also the longest the series has gone since its inception without releasing a new title. And even if Mario Kart 8 recently received DLC in 2023, I would really like to see a new installment in the series.
Mario Kart games are typically as innovative as the new console they are released on. Double dash!! made a huge leap forward in the presentation style and the way karts behave, Mario Kart DS introduced online gambling, Mario Kart Wii added motion controls, etc. Why the Switch Never Got Its Own New Mario Kart game, we haven't yet seen what kind of innovations a newer Nintendo system could bring to the series. While it's disappointing that the series skips this generation, Mario Kart 9 could introduce some unique features based on whatever innovations the “Switch 2” brings with it.
Nintendo has a lot to build on for new Mario Kart courses
Mario Kart courses often reference the current era of Nintendo
An element of Mario Kart series that I really like is like each game's courses serve as a sort of snapshot of where Nintendo and the Mario franchise are at the time of its release. For example, “Peach Beach” in Mario Kart: Double Race!! perfectly captures the Mario of the GameCube era, where his main game was tropical Super Mario Luz do Sol. The same goes for other Nintendo games presented as courses, with Mario Kart 8of Animal crossing course reflecting the last edition of the series at the time, New Leaf.
In the 10 years since Mario Kart 8new release of, there have been many Mario games and other Nintendo games that could inspire new courses for Mario Kart 9. Super Mario Odyssey and Luigi's Mansion 3 both were later released Mario Kart 8 and could serve as inspiration for new courses. If Link makes another appearance, it would be really fun to get a new Hyrule course based on Breath of Nature or Tears of the Kingdom. Additionally, an updated Animal crossing Of course it seems like a no brainer after Animal Crossing New Horizons'success.
Mario Kart captures the appeal of Nintendo consoles
Nintendo consoles are best for social gaming
For me, the biggest appeal for a new Nintendo system has always been the promise of new installments in Nintendo's main franchises. If I want a console to play major AAA releases, I have a PlayStation. If I want to play fun indie games, I have my PC. So, if I'm going to shell out money to buy a new Nintendo console, I'd really like to know if it will give me what I expect from it. The inclusion of Mario Kart 9 on the new console it would help a lot to sell me.
Although I like single-player games like Zelda or platforms on Mario series, I've also always seen Nintendo systems more as a social console. I love games like Mario Kart and Mario's Party which have a low barrier to entry but offer the potential to create a (sometimes overly) competitive atmosphere among a group of friends. No games like these or Super Smash Bros.I'm not sure the prospect of a new Nintendo console has the same appeal to me as it would to some other gamers.
The Switch 2 isn't a very exciting console
A second change doesn't have the same excitement as previous Nintendo consoles
I don't want to be too hard on the Switch 2. We don't even know for sure if it already exists or what new features it might bring. That said, if it's just an updated version of the Switch, as the name given by fans indicates, I'm not particularly excited.
Since the Wii, Nintendo has established itself as a major innovator in the console space. As console wars raged between the largely similar Xbox and PlayStation consoles of previous generations, Nintendo stood out by offering something unique in each new console. The idea of a Switch 2, a direct sequel console that doesn't bring something new and exciting to the table, simply doesn't match what I expect from Nintendo's creativity when it comes to making new consoles.
With no official word from Nintendo on what its next console will be like, I'm hopeful it will be something new and exciting. That said, it's hard to get too excited about the vague Switch 2 rumors at the moment. I'm open to changing my mind with an actual announcement that showcases new features, but without that, the basic idea of a new Switch console doesn't interest me much.
The confirmation of a new generation of consoles generally doesn't excite me. It's yet another reminder that I'll be forced to shell out a large sum of money to keep up with the new games. In contrast, Mario Kart 9 is a much more concrete rumor to get excited about. Honestly, if I had to choose between the Switch 2 being announced or simply getting a Mario Kart 9 for the current-gen Switch, I would choose Mario Kart every time.
Developed and published by Nintendo, Mario Kart 9 is the long-awaited sequel to Mario Kart 8. The title would be in development in January 2022.