Nintendo to shut down ‘Mario Kart’ mobile game

July 8, 2026 - 19:29

Nintendo is preparing to launch a blue shell directly at one of its "Mario Kart" titles. The company announced that "Mario Kart Tour," the mobile racing game that brought the franchise to smartphones, will be shut down later this year. The game will officially stop receiving new content and updates on October 4, 2025, though players will still be able to access the app in a limited offline mode after that date.

Launched in 2019, "Mario Kart Tour" was Nintendo's attempt to adapt its popular racing series for touchscreen devices. The game featured simplified controls, a gacha-style loot box system for unlocking characters and karts, and a rotating selection of real-world city tracks. While it generated significant revenue in its early years, the game's popularity has declined as players grew tired of its monetization model and repetitive gameplay.

Nintendo has not announced a replacement for the mobile title. The company has been cautious about expanding its core franchises to smartphones, preferring to focus on its dedicated hardware like the Switch. The shutdown of "Mario Kart Tour" marks the end of a notable experiment in mobile gaming for the company, which has seen mixed results with other titles like "Fire Emblem Heroes" and "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp." Players who have spent money on in-game purchases will be able to use their remaining currency until the service ends.