Nintendo Eyes Mario Kart World as Switch 2’s Evergreen Hit — Could Years of DLC Be Coming?

Mario Kart World is basically Nintendo telling us: yes, this is the Switch 2 game we want you playing forever. And honestly, if that means DLC like we got with 8 Deluxe, sign me up.

Nintendo is aiming for another forever Mario Kart

In Nintendo's latest financial results briefing, president Shuntaro Furukawa put some numbers behind how big Mario Kart World already is on Nintendo Switch 2. He says roughly nine out of every 10 Switch 2 owners have played it — and that stat includes folks who picked up a console-and-game bundle. Not shocking given how closely Switch 2 sales and the new Mario Kart have tracked since launch, but still, that is a massive attach rate.

'Just as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe became the most-played title on Nintendo Switch, we aim for Mario Kart World to become an evergreen title for Nintendo Switch 2 that players will continue to choose for years to come.'

The bar to clear is huge

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definition of legs. Matching that will not be easy for World, at least not anytime soon. As of the end of September, 8 Deluxe had sold 69.56 million copies. Mario Kart World was at 9.57 million as of that same point. To be fair, 8 Deluxe has almost eight years of a head start, so those numbers are not apples-to-apples — but World has some catching up to do.

Why long-term support matters (and where DLC comes in)

When Nintendo talks about players choosing World 'for years to come,' my ears perk up. 8 Deluxe did not stay fresh by accident. After its initial re-release on Switch — already beefed up with the DLC from the Wii U version — Nintendo rolled out the Booster Course Pass. The first wave did not hit until March 2022, long after launch, and the steady drip of tracks kept people racing.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe total sales as of end of September: 69.56 million
• Mario Kart World total sales as of end of September: 9.57 million
• 8 Deluxe had nearly eight years of extra runway
• 8 Deluxe stayed alive with the Booster Course Pass, which began in March 2022
• The Switch version also included the Wii U DLC from day one, so it started with more to do

Nintendo has not said a word about DLC for Mario Kart World yet. I am reading between the lines here, but if the goal is truly 'evergreen,' then more tracks, modes, or something beyond basic patches feels inevitable. Or at least I hope so.

One odd little wrinkle

This is delightfully strange: apparently NPCs in Mario Kart World can break into each other's cars. As one clip-worthy callout put it: 'He is breaking into Green Shy Guy's car! And now he is stealing it!' That is... not the Mario Kart I grew up with, but sure, why not.