Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been Nintendo’s golden goose for the Switch era, however what can a sequel do to succeed in the identical heights?
When Mario Kart 8 launched in 2014 on the Wii U, few would have guessed we’d nonetheless be enjoying the identical recreation over 10 years later. The Nintendo Switch has given numerous uncared for Wii U video games a second wind, however with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – aslightly up to date model with all the unique DLC included – it felt as if Nintendo had achieved peak kart racer.
If you go by gross sales, it definitely is. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has bought over 64.27 million copies because it launched in April 2017; with the Wii U model added on the whole is 72.73 million. It’s the best-selling Switch recreation by a substantial margin, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons effectively behind at 46.45 million.
Mario Kart is normally on the prime in terms of software program gross sales for every Nintendo system, however even within the historical past of the collection, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a towering anomaly. Its 3DS predecessor, Mario Kart 7, bought 18.99 million models, whereas Mario Kart Wii, the very best promoting recreation on the system should you don’t embody Wii Sports, bought 37.38 million – simply over half of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s numbers thus far.
The Switch’s longevity is a key purpose for these numbers, but it surely’s additionally reflective of Mario Kart 8’s high quality. The crisp visuals are timeless, the wealthy orchestral soundtrack is outstanding, and now there are 96 tracks in complete, because of new DLC – together with among the greatest programs from all through the collection’ historical past.
Its prolonged lifespan has turned it into Mario Kart’s biggest hits, however with such an all-encompassing bundle, the place does that depart the inevitable sequel?
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed one other Mario Kart is in improvement, however it’s a certainty given the corporate’s historical past and the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Switch is an outlier in that it’s the primary Nintendo console, exterior of the Game Boy, to go with out a new Mario Kart recreation throughout its lifetime. So in that sense Mario Kart 9 shouldn’t be solely inevitable, it’s overdue.
Whatever Mario Kart 9 finally ends up being, the subsequent console’s backwards compatibility means it would nonetheless have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe looming over it. Nintendo might want to present some very clear causes as to why anybody would need to purchase a brand new Mario Kart once they can simply play the previous one they have already got.
Leaked specs for the Switch 2 recommend it’ll be as or extra highly effective than the PlayStation 4, however at a time when visible upgrades have develop into little greater than miniscule boosts in resolutions, it’s arduous to see a future entry counting on graphical enhancements as its major promoting level.
So what can it supply? Mario Kart titles have traditionally differentiated themselves with gimmicks or additions primarily based on the {hardware}’s capabilities. Mario Kart 8 boasted anti-gravity, Mario Kart: Double Dash caught two drivers behind the wheel, Mario Kart Wii utilised movement controls, whereas Mario Kart 64 launched 3D graphics.
The subsequent entry will seemingly be tied to a selected characteristic of the Switch 2, but when leaks are to be believed the subsequent system gained’t be a drastic overhaul by way of its general design. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s large hook was large price range Mario Kart on the transfer, however now that novelty has develop into the norm.
Many followers have typically known as for a broader ‘Nintendo Kart’ akin to Super Smash Bros. (one other Nintendo franchise that appears to have maxed out all the pieces that it’s attainable to do with a sequel) and whereas extra crossover tracks like Hyrule Castle really feel like a shoe-in, it isn’t precisely an enormous promoting level when Zelda, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing characters are already in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – to not point out tracks primarily based on F-Zero and Excitebike.
Admittedly, not each recreation within the collection has provided a seismic shift (hiya, Mario Kart 7) however with such a behemoth sharing the identical console area, it’s going to take one thing vital to make Mario Kart 9 as attractive a proposition as its predecessor.
The reply to Mario Kart’s future may, nonetheless, be hiding in plain sight. Nintendo has performed mysterious playtests for an unknown recreation with a massively multiplayer on-line (MMO) framework, and whereas that doesn’t appear to have something to do with Mario Kart per se, it does recommend a renewed curiosity in vital on-line modes for its video games.
Splatoon already has a web based plaza the place you’ll be able to customise your character and have interaction with others, so an enlargement of that concept for the Mushroom Kingdom, or throughout all the firm’s IP in one thing much like Nintendo Land, may assist to make Mario Kart 9 appear extra distinct.
If Mario Kart has develop into a sensation due to its get together recreation repute, the subsequent step could be world, appointment viewing occasions. During the Switch’s lifespan, there have been on-line unique video games which have performed with the battle royale format, together with Tetris 99, Super Mario Bros. 35, and lately F-Zero 99. It’s straightforward to think about this framework being utilized to Mario Kart or different restricted time modes, much like how Fortnite and different reside service video games work.
How interesting an online-focused Mario Kart could be to informal gamers is one other matter, however it might be a significant evolution of the collection, and maybe set up Nintendo’s on-line plans for its subsequent console – the one space the place the corporate has trailed far behind its opponents.
There are clearly different methods by which Mario Kart can evolve its idea at a extra trivial degree – Mario Kart 7, for instance, threw in hand gliders and underwater sections – however the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels prefer it’s painted Nintendo right into a nook which calls for a considerable overhaul to beat.
When you’ve perfected the system with among the best racing video games ever made, it’s going to take quite a lot of tweaks to reflect the identical success on Switch 2.
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