Mario Kart World is set to make its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2, marking the culmination of an eight-year development journey. As one of the first officially confirmed titles for the upcoming Switch 2 console, Mario Kart World promises to redefine the beloved mascot racing franchise. Players won't have to wait long after the console's release, as the game will be available simultaneously on June 5.

This installment might just be the most expansive Mario Kart game yet, thanks to its vast interconnected courses that form a sprawling open world. Beyond traditional races, Mario Kart World introduces a new Free Roam mode, allowing players to explore the vibrant sandbox at their leisure. Additional highlights include an extensive roster of characters, an elimination-based Knockout Tour mode, and innovative power-ups designed to spice up the competition.

With Mario Kart World just two weeks away from launch, Nintendo recently hosted an insightful interview with the game's developers on their official website. Producer Kosuke Yabuki revealed that the team began conceptualizing the next Mario Kart title during the development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with prototyping commencing in March 2017. Interestingly, this coincided with the release of the original Nintendo Switch, as Mario Kart World was initially intended for that platform.

Yabuki explained that the team aimed to create an expansive game map for Mario Kart World from the outset, believing that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had perfected the traditional racing formula. Art Director Masaaki Ishikawa noted that the courses felt empty with the usual 12-player races, prompting the decision to implement 24-player races in Mario Kart World. However, Programming Director Kenta Sato highlighted the technical challenges of rendering such large-scale races on the original Switch's hardware, leading to development hurdles and discussions about potential compromises.

By 2020, Kosuke Yabuki proposed shifting Mario Kart World to the Nintendo Switch 2, as the team had insights into the new console's capabilities. Once development kits for the Switch 2 became available, the team found renewed optimism, enabling them to fully realize their ambitious vision for Mario Kart World. Gamers worldwide will soon experience this vision firsthand when the game launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.