Mario Kart Tour Ceases Content Additions

(Last Updated On: September 13, 2023)

Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour game has recently announced significant changes to its future content updates. Starting from October 4, the game will no longer introduce fresh courses, drivers, karts, or gliders.

Instead, it will continue to provide service, but tours will feature content that players have encountered previously within the game. The final new tour, aptly named the Anniversary Tour, will commence on September 20.

In September 2022, the game removed the “Pipe” gacha feature, which allowed users to exchange in-game currency for randomly generated drivers, karts, and gliders.

In response, in October of the same year, the game introduced the “Spotlight Shop” feature, offering users the choice to purchase a rotating inventory of drivers, karts, and gliders. Alongside these changes, Nintendo also introduced a new “Battle Mode” to enhance the gameplay experience.

Mario Kart Tour originally launched in September 2019, following a brief delay. Nintendo first announced this smartphone addition to the Mario Kart series in February 2018, marking the franchise’s debut on mobile platforms. The game follows a “free to start” model and necessitates a Nintendo Account for access.

While Nintendo handled the planning and development of the application, DeNA was responsible for managing the backend, including servers, infrastructure, and analytical aspects.

The most recent installment in the Mario Kart series before this mobile release was Mario Kart 8, which initially released for the Wii U in 2014. The game saw remarkable success, selling over 1.2 million copies during its opening weekend. Subsequently, a Nintendo Switch version titled Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was launched in April 2017.

To further enrich the experience, the Switch version introduced the “Booster Course Pass,” featuring six waves of downloadable content (DLC), including courses from other Mario Kart titles, even incorporating content from Mario Kart Tour. Nintendo rolled out the first wave of eight courses in March 2022, with the final and sixth wave scheduled for release in 2023.