Nintendo’s Mario Kart World Direct today was essentially a 15-minute showcase focused on the upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, set to launch on June 5, 2025. For the first time in the series, Mario Kart World features a vast, interconnected world where courses are linked by roads. Players can drive between tracks, especially in Grand Prix mode, where you navigate from one course to the next as part of the experience.
A major focus in this Direct was the Free Roam mode, where you can explore the game’s colorful landscapes solo or in co-op. It includes open-world challenges like missions triggered by P-Switches (collecting coins or racing to a destination), with “hundreds” of these switches scattered around. Hidden coins (like the Peach Medallion), panels, and other secrets add to the exploration. A Photo Mode lets you capture moments with special frames and poses.
- Bowser’s muscle car toy for kids – Gear up for car-driving, bomb-flinging, role-play fun with this LEGO Super Mario Expansion Set
- Includes a brick-built Super Mario character – The LEGO Super Mario Bowser toy has an Action Tag for interactive play
- Collectible Bowser race car toy – Place Bowser in the driver’s seat and pull the yellow lever one way to make the hood ornament move and flick it...
Grand Prix remains the core racing mode, with four races per Cup (Mushroom, Flower, Star, etc.), supporting up to 24 racers—a series first. Knockout Tour is a new competitive mode, also with 24 players. Finishing all Grand Prix Cups unlocks a “colorful course” (heavily implied to be Rainbow Road).
Some of the new tracks include Mario Bros. Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, and Boo Cinema, plus reimagined classics like Koopa Troopa Beach. Some courses feature dynamic day/night racing. Fresh items include Ice Flower, Hammer, Mega Mushroom, Feather, and Bullet Bill. A Dash Food mechanic ties into costume unlocks while a rewind feature lets you redo tricky sections in Free Roam.
Battle mode uses existing track sections, offering both traditional and larger “wide arena” setups, an improvement over Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s approach. The game supports four-player splitscreen (possibly 30fps), local wireless for up to 16 players (two per console), and GameChat integration.
A Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle ($499.99) is available until Fall 2025, after which the game will cost $79.99 standalone, a price point that some feel is just too expensive. With that said, the Direct didn’t drop major surprises but provided an up-close look at the Free Roam, battle mode, and gameplay features.
