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Mario Kart World Direct: Key Highlights Revealed

Author:Kristen Update:May 13,2025

The recently concluded Mario Kart World Direct provided a wealth of information on the much-anticipated addition to the Mario Kart series. Dive in to discover more about the game's expansive free-roam world and its exciting features.

Mario Kart World Direct Reveals

An Interconnected World

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

On April 17, Nintendo unveiled the Mario Kart World Direct, showcasing a host of new features and aspects of the game. Players will have the opportunity to navigate through Mario Kart World, exploring both beloved and new regions of the Mario universe.

Nintendo emphasized, "In Mario Kart World, the game's courses are interspersed across the world with roads leading from one to the next – so players can experience navigating roads in between courses!"

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

Embark on a journey through Mario's world like never before, with stunning landscapes and iconic landmarks scattered throughout. As you explore, you'll encounter hidden items and missions that will enhance your driving skills beyond the traditional races.

The game introduces a mix of new and classic courses, including Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, Boo Cinema, Toad's Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyard. These classic courses have been creatively reimagined to seamlessly integrate into the expansive new world of Mario Kart.

Grand Prix and Knockout Tour

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

Mario Kart World introduces two primary racing formats: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, each accommodating up to 24 racers – the largest number in the series' history. Participants will need to navigate a variety of obstacles, including Bullet Bill-shooting cars and attacks from the Hammer Bros.

In the Grand Prix, players will compete in four consecutive races to win cups such as the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, and Star Cup. Unlike previous iterations, players must travel to the next race location to continue their Grand Prix journey. Completing all Grand Prix cups unlocks a special "colorful course," rumored to be the iconic Rainbow Road.

The newly introduced Knockout Tour takes players on an extended journey across the world. This survival-style race requires racers to finish in a qualifying position to advance to the next race, with elimination for those who don't make the cut.

Items, Characters, and More

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

Mario Kart World features a refreshed arsenal of items for races, blending new and returning favorites. Notable additions include the Coin Shell, which can knock opponents aside while leaving a trail of collectable coins, the Ice Flower, which freezes rivals on contact, and the Big Mushroom, enabling players to grow large and squash other racers.

The game's roster includes beloved characters from the Mushroom Kingdom like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, alongside new additions such as Goomba, Spike, and even Cow. Players can uncover alternate costumes for these characters hidden throughout the world.

Playing With Friends

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

Mario Kart World offers a variety of game modes to enjoy with friends. Time Trials allow players to compete against ghost data from racers around the globe. VS mode provides extensive customization options, enabling the creation of racing teams. Battle mode returns with Coin Runners, where the goal is to collect the most coins, and Balloon Battle, where the last racer with a balloon wins.

The game supports both local and online multiplayer. Up to four players can race in split-screen on a single system, while local wireless play supports up to eight players (two per Nintendo Switch 2 device). The new GameChat feature on the Switch 2 allows for real-time communication and screen sharing among players.

What You Missed: Mario Kart World Direct

To assist players, Mario Kart World includes options like Smart Steering to help stay on course, Auto-accelerate for automatic forward movement, Tilt controls for enhanced immersion through motion control, and compatibility with the new Joy-Con 2 Wheel for an authentic racing experience.

Mario Kart World is set to revolutionize the kart-racing genre by offering an open-world experience where players can freely explore the vibrant world of Mario and his friends. The game is scheduled for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our dedicated article below!