Mario Kart World Debuts on Switch 1

In a surprising revelation, the development team behind *Mario Kart World* confirmed that the game was initially intended for the original Nintendo Switch. The title, now set to launch alongside the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, began its journey back in 2017 during the final stages of *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*. In a recent edition of Nintendo’s “Ask the Developer” series published on May 21, producer Kosuke Yabuki provided insight into the game's evolution and the strategic decision to shift development platforms.

Early Development and Ambitious Goals

The first prototype for *Mario Kart World* was created in March 2017, with full-scale development kicking off by the end of that year. According to Yabuki, the team had already refined the Mario Kart formula with *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*, and they were eager to push beyond traditional boundaries. This ambition led them to break away from numerical naming conventions and instead adopt a bold new identity—*Mario Kart World*—which had already appeared in early concept art.

Switching Platforms: From Switch to Switch 2

Programming Director Kenta Sato revealed that the idea to transition development to the upcoming Switch 2 first emerged in 2020. While the team had some expectations about the next-gen console’s specs, actual dev kits weren’t available until later. Until then, they relied on provisional performance estimates to guide development.

Sato explained the necessity of this shift: “Of course, the Switch system's performance is sufficient for many types of games, but if we included everything we wanted in this game’s expansive world, it wouldn't have maintained a smooth 60 fps.” Once the team got hands-on access to Switch 2 hardware, their concerns eased. He added, “I remember being overjoyed when I discovered we could express even more than we originally envisioned.”

This upgrade also meant that visual assets needed refinement. Art Director Masaaki Ishikawa noted that graphics had to be enhanced to match the new platform’s capabilities. Rather than seeing this as a burden, the art team welcomed the opportunity. “We felt relieved knowing we could go further,” he said, citing improvements like richer environments, increased terrain details, and more immersive track designs.

Cow Joins the Race

One of the most exciting reveals in the game’s debut trailer was Cow becoming a playable character for the first time in series history. Previously seen only as background scenery or an obstacle, Cow’s inclusion came from a lighthearted sketch drawn by one of the designers. Ishikawa recalled, “I thought to myself, ‘This is it!’ (Laughs) We realized the course surroundings actually contained a lot of untapped resources.”

Interestingly, Cow’s integration felt surprisingly natural. This opened the door for future possibilities of bringing other NPC characters into the racing roster, aligning with the game’s theme of a fully interconnected world.

A New Era of Racing

Beyond character additions, the developers focused heavily on creating a dynamic and cohesive racing experience. The game features diverse food elements across tracks, kart adaptations for various terrains, and evolving track layouts designed to keep players engaged and immersed in the world.

With all these enhancements and insights shared by the development team, excitement for *Mario Kart World* continues to build. As Nintendo prepares to launch one of its flagship franchises on the new Switch 2 at launch, fans can expect a fresh and ambitious entry that redefines what a Mario Kart game can be.

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