Mario Kart Worldwas one of the standout reveals of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, both for all the right and wrong reasons.Mario Kart World’s $80 price tagis unprecedentedly high, not just for Nintendo but for the video game industry as a whole, and it’s rightfully upset a lot of fans. But the game itself has received a much warmer welcome.
Along with the footage shown in the Switch 2 Direct,Mario Kart Worldhas also received a few dedicated Nintendo Treehouse livestreams, where fans were shown some extended gameplay sequences. 24-player lobbies, open-world free roam, and connected track layouts are just some of the new features coming withMario Kart World. But there’s a lot fans still don’t know about the nextMario Kartentry, and hopefully all will be revealed duringMario Kart World’s Direct on April 17.
What Fans Should Expect from the Mario Kart World Direct
A Comprehensive Breakdown of Game Modes
Mario Kart Worldwill feature three distinct game modes on launch: Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, and Free Roam. These game modes are probably the aspects ofMario Kart Worldthat fans currently know the most about, with both entire matches ofGrand Prix and Knockout Tourbeing played in full via Nintendo Treehouse streams.
That said, fans should still expect an overview of each of these game modes during the upcomingMario Kart WorldDirect, just to give fans a clear idea of exactly what they can expect from each one. Fans might also get a better look atMario Kart World’s Free Roam mode, and more specifically, what players will actually be able to do in it. For instance, hands-on previews have mentioned finding character-specific coins while exploring, but it’s unclear what role these will play.
A Comprehensive Look at Items
A total of28 items have been spotted inMario Kart World’s pre-release footage, most of which come fromMario Kart 8 Deluxe, a handful fromMario Kart TourandWii, and a few are entirely new. IfMario Kart World’s Direct is truly going to be the deep-dive that Nintendo has promised, then it’s possible fans will get a comprehensive look at every item the game has to offer, potentially with a few excluded to surprise fans on launch day.
A Comprehensive Look at Customization
One area ofMario Kart Worldthat fans are still a little unclear about is customization. In the trailers and Treehouse streams, fans were shown variousMariocharacters picking up a glowing bag-shaped item, consuming the food inside, and suddenly changing outfits. It’s unclear how these outfits are unlocked or if they’ll have any effect on gameplay.
It’s already been confirmed that players will no longer be able to swap the chassis, wheels, and glider of their karts. Instead,Mario Kart Worldwill just have players choosing a character and choosing one whole kart.
A Full Roster Breakdown
Over 50 characters have been spotted inMario Kart World’s trailers and streams, 20 of which are brand-new to the series. It doesn’t seem as though Nintendo wants to keep the roster a secret, so it’d make sense for fans to get a full breakdown of the game’s line-up during theMario Kart WorldDirect.
A Course Overview
Much like items and characters, Nintendo has been pretty open aboutMario Kart World’s courses, showing a handful in action during livestreams and showing the names and icons of many more during trailers. Fans might get a full breakdown ofMario Kart World’s tracklistduring the upcoming Direct, including plenty of new courses and a handful of old ones that have likely been reimagined to fit with the game’s larger lobby size.
