Mario Kart World is the latest installment in the ever-popular Mario Kart racing series. Read on to learn about its release date, what platforms it's coming to, and its announcement history.
Mario Kart World Release Date and Time
Free 1.8.0 Update
Mario Kart World released its free 1.8.0 update, which features 10 new SNES-inspired courses and two additional Knockout Tours.
Released on June 5, 2025
Launched on the Same Day as the Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World was released alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. It released at the same time as the Nintendo Switch 2.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Switch 2 |
|||||
| $79.99 |
Mario Kart World Direct Scheduled for April 17, 2025 at 6:00 A.M. PT / 9:00 A.M. ET
Nintendo held a Mario Kart World Direct on April 17, 2025, at 6:00 A.M. PT / 9:00 A.M. ET, where more gameplay details were shown. You can check out the timetable below to find out what time the presentation started in your region:
| Region | Local Release Time |
|---|---|
| United States (ET) | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m. |
| United States (PT) | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 6:00 a.m. |
| United Kingdom | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 2:00 p.m. |
| Central Europe | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 3:00 p.m. |
| New Zealand | Friday, April 18, 2025, 2:00 a.m. |
| Australian East Coast | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 11:00 p.m. |
| Australian West Coast | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 9:00 p.m. |
| Japan | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 10:00 p.m. |
| Philippines | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 9:00 p.m. |
| South Africa | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 3:00 p.m. |
| Brazil | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 10:00 a.m. |
| Universal Time (UTC) | Thursday, April 17, 2025, 1:00 p.m. |
Mario Kart World Overview
Mario Kart World is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It serves as the ninth main installment in the Mario Kart series and the first original console entry since Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U in 2014. This title introduced several innovations, including an open-world structure and a more expanded multiplayer capability.
As an open-world game, Mario Kart World lets players traverse a fully interconnected map that links various race tracks and environments, such as the Mushroom Kingdom, Crown City, and Starview Peak, without any loading screens in between. The game also features dynamic weather and time-of-day systems that affect track conditions and visibility. The primary objective here, though, remains consistent with the series: compete against other characters from the Mario universe to reach the finish line first.
This title also expands multiplayer races to accommodate up to 24 participants, the largest number in the series to date. New gameplay mechanics include the Charge Jump, which allows players to leap over obstacles and perform wall-riding maneuvers, and the Rewind feature, which enables drivers to reset their position after errors. The game also introduces new items like the Coin Shell and Ice Flower, as well as new characters such as Goomba and Cow. Multiplayer modes support both local split-screen and online play, with features like GameChat enhancing communication among players.
Is Mario Kart World on Xbox Game Pass?
No, as the game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Is Mario Kart World on PS Plus?
No, as the game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Is Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch Online?
Nintendo has not announced plans to add Mario Kart World to the Nintendo Switch Online library. While a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for online play, GameChat is accessible without a membership until March 31, 2026.
Announcement History
April 2, 2025 | Reveal Announcement
Mario Kart World was officially announced during the Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, 2025.
January 16, 2025
A snippet of Mario Kart World was teased during the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2.
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