Mario Kart World Direct Reveals New Tracks, Characters, and Modes Ahead of June 5 Launch

Nintendo’s Next-Gen Racer Set to Redefine the Series with Open World, Dynamic Environments, and 24-Player Online Races

Kyoto, Japan – Nintendo has pulled the curtain back on its ambitious new entry in the beloved racing franchise with the Mario Kart World Direct, showcasing an exciting lineup of features coming to Mario Kart World—the flagship launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, arriving June 5.

This 16-minute deep dive presented fans with a stunning look at new courses, characters, and modes while highlighting the game’s expansive open world design—a first for the Mario Kart franchise.

Courses: From Classic Tracks to Open-World Racing

Mario Kart World transforms the traditional track-based gameplay into an interconnected map featuring:

• Cities, deserts, plains, and oceans

• Dynamic weather systems and a day-night cycle that impact visibility and traction

• Seamless transitions between tracks in Grand Prix and Knockout Tour modes

New courses unveiled during the Direct include:

• Mario Bros. Circuit A vibrant track near Peach’s Castle

• Crown City Urban chaos with traffic and shortcuts

• Salty Salty Speedway Canals and coastal views with tight drifts

• Starview Peak A mountain-side race filled with icy hazards

• Boo Cinema A haunted theatre featuring spectral obstacles

Returning fan favorites confirmed include:

• Toad’s Factory

• Peach Beach

• Wario Shipyard

Characters: New Faces Join Classic Favorites

The racer roster is bigger than ever, blending classic icons with fresh faces:

• Returning: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and others

• New Racers:

  • Goombas For the first time, playable

  • Spike The Super Mario enemy joins the roster

  • The Cow An unexpected viral favorite already generating buzz online

Game Modes: A New Kind of Karting Adventure

Mario Kart World features two primary racing modes:

Grand Prix

• Classic 4-race format now layered into the open world

• Players drive between races within the same region

• Unlockable cups and routes through exploration

Knockout Tour

• A high-stakes endurance mode across multiple tracks

• Checkpoints, obstacles, and eliminations

• Players must avoid hazards and beat opponents to stay in the race

• Supports up to 24 players in a single session

Free Roam

• Explore the massive open map without pressure

• Discover hidden items, easter eggs, and mini-challenges

New Items & Techniques

Mario Kart World adds fresh racing mechanics and items, including:

• Charge Jump Move Hold for a timed leap across gaps

• Chained Wall Rides Stick and ride across curved vertical surfaces

• Coin Shells Hits front runners and drops coins for trailing racers

• Ice Flower Freezes nearby racers

• Hammer Squashes enemies within range

Multiplayer: Bigger Than Ever

• Split-screen: Up to 4 players on a single Switch 2

• Local wireless: Up to 8 players (2 per system)

• Online multiplayer: Supports up to 24 racers simultaneously, a new franchise record

Launch & Bundle Details

• Release Date: June 5, 2025

• Platform: Exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2

• Will be available as part of the Mario Kart World Bundle for Switch 2 buyers

Conclusion

Mario Kart World is poised to be the most ambitious title in series history, delivering massive multiplayer, open-world exploration, and mechanical depth without sacrificing the fun, charm, and chaos that fans have come to love.