Rumors and speculation can be a great way for people to express what they want from games, but they can also lead to disappointment. For many fans of theMario Kartseries hoping for the announcement ofMario Kart 9, this is probably the case following the first Nintendo Direct of 2022. While there was some great news and reveals for upcoming games, a newMario Karttitle was noticeably absent from the Nintendo Direct. This is likely because of the news of the new DLC forMario Kart 8 Deluxe, which will include 48 new courses for the game that will roll out from March 18 of this year until the end of 2023.
This long-term plan to continuously bring new maps toMario Kart 8 Deluxethrough the new DLC bundle is great news for fans of the game, as it means there will be support through 2023. For a title that was originally released in 2014 on the Wii U, this will result in nearly a decade-long lifespan, a notable achievement when other video game franchises can sometimes see new releases every other year. Still, despite the 48 new maps on their way toMario Kart 8 Deluxe,Nintendo fans are unsure about how to feel. Nearly ten years without a new installment in a franchise is a long time, and despite the new DLC, it’s clear that a newMario Karttitle could benefit a lot from what the Nintendo Switch has to offer.
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No Mario Kart 9 News
On top of this, fans have been hoping forMario Kart 9news for a while, making the question of why it was absent from the most recent Nintendo Direct a prominent one for many people. Given the support thatMario Kart 8 Deluxeis getting, it’s pretty clear why no reveal of the game was made. By and large,the new DLC forMario Kart 8 Deluxeis bad news forMario Kart 9because it points to the game going without any reveal for quite a while. While no new DLC forMario Kart 8 Deluxecould have meant a future announcement in the next Nintendo Direct or a big reveal in June, generally when E3 happens, the course bundle signals thatMario Kart 8 Deluxewill be the series’ focus for the foreseeable future.
Nintendo putting resources into theremaster of classic maps forMario Kart 8 Deluxeand then soon after announcingMario Kart 9isn’t a move that would make too much sense anyway. It would take away from the impact that the new DLC bundle has and also minimize fan interest in staying with, or investing in,Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This means that players shouldn’t expect anything relating toMario Kart 9until roughly 2024 at the earliest given the currently expected rollout of the new maps. This givesMario Kart 8 Deluxeenough time to release all the recently announced DLC and also provides a buffer between the two titles.
It’s a fairly money-based and business-oriented way to look at things, but despite how much joy fans get from Nintendo games, it’s still a company. Being able to maximize its investment in titles likeMario Kart 8 Deluxeis going to be its main focus, even while developing great games. This includestheMario Kart 8 DeluxeDLC, and given how many maps are going to be released over the next couple of years, there will be a lot of resources aimed at supporting the title until it’s all been rolled out. The continued support ofMario Kart 8 Deluxedoesn’t mean thatMario Kart 9is dead in the water, though.
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The Future of Mario Kart 9
Rumors aroundMario Kart 9suggest a twistthat could change the series considerably. In the two decades sinceSuper Mario Kartdebuted, technology has advanced at a phenomenal rate. While Nintendo consoles haven’t always been the strongest options on the market, they’ve still provided memorable experiences and Nintendo games consistently build on their predecessors. This could mean that whenMario Kart 9is announced its reveal might present a revolutionary take on theMario Kartseries, one that is going to take more time to develop.
Not only does this make the wait forMario Kart 9worth it, but it also makesthe newMario Kart 8 DeluxeBooster Course Passa reasonable investment. While it won’t be a whole new game, it offers remasters of pastMario Kartmaps to hold fans over untilMario Kart 9is revealed. BecauseMario Kart 9will likely be absent from the public eye until 2024 it should help to keep things fresh in the most currentMario Karttitle while allowing for the necessary time to develop a well-polished sequel for the series.
It might not be the reality that fans were hoping for sinceMario Kart 9was rumored for the Nintendo Directthat took place on February 9, but it is the one that will likely serve both the players and developers the best. This gives players something to look forward to as well as updating classic experiences forMario Kart 8 Deluxe. It should help the game continue to feel fresh moving forward while still being reasonable in its scope. At the same time, the remaster of so many maps means that whatever team might be working onMario Kart 9has a strong buffer between them and the game’s announcement. It takes time to make any game, and ifMario Kart 9makes any of the major changes its rumors have suggested, then it’s a big endeavor even for an experienced company like Nintendo.
For players that are still looking for something new, though, there are plenty of games to hold players over that aren’tMario Kart 8 Deluxebut offer something similar. BothChocobo GPandDisney Speedstormare kart racer games that look similar toMario Kartbut rely on different properties. Their unique rosters and gameplay should be able to fill the void untilMario Kart 9is announced if new maps aren’t enticing enough for fans of the series.Chocobo GPis set to release on March 10, withDisney Speedstormexpected sometime this summer, meaning they will be available a lot sooner than 2024. Fans are in for a long wait when it comes toMario Kart 9, so trying out a similar game to kill the time may be necessary.
