Nintendo is bringing Mario Kart to mobile devices.
The Japanese gaming giant has confirmed the much-loved racing series will make the jump to smartphones sometime between April this year and March 2019, with a game called Mario Kart Tour.
The chequered flag has been raised and the finish line is near. A new mobile application is now in development: Mario Kart Tour! Releasing in the fiscal year ending in March 2019. #MarioKartTour pic.twitter.com/f81AG3BMaI
— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) February 1, 2018
Sadly, no details on what exactly the game will entail have been shared by Nintendo, but the franchise is one of the company’s biggest.
First released on the SNES in 1992, the series has since become one of Nintendo’s most popular.
Nintendo has placed increased focus on mobile games in recent years, having launched its first handful of official titles from an extensive catalogue of games.
Mario himself has already made the jump to mobile in Super Mario Run, which debuted on the iPhone in 2016.
However it received mixed reviews because of the need for a constant internet connection and high price (£9.99) to unlock the full game.
As a result, initial reaction to the announcement of Mario Kart Tour has also been divided.
#MarioKart coming to the phone!! 😍😍 excited isn’t the word for it!
— Tom Harrison (@Tom1993harrison) February 1, 2018
Mario Kart looks like it’s coming to iPhones and I am pumped to rekindle the Luigi bromance. He may be slow and useless, but Luigi is my guy.
— Nick Rynne (@NickRynne) February 1, 2018
Mario Kart Tour getting downloaded and played for a smooth 20 minutes before getting deleted like every mobile game
— John X (@48john) February 1, 2018
Mario Kart Tour:
$1 for a blue shell!!!!!!
— Bradley Kragen (@BradleyKragen) February 1, 2018
I wonder how good "Mario Kart Tour" would be, considering its a racer mobile game. And we all know how those end up.
— Hell Inspector (@hell_inspector) February 1, 2018
Mario Kart has also had recent success on the Nintendo Switch, where a port of existing game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold more than seven million copies.
As part of a series of announcements, Nintendo also confirmed that its long-awaited online gaming service for the Switch will launch in September.
#NintendoSwitch Online will launch in September 2018! pic.twitter.com/h3Rpeyymsx
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 1, 2018
And Super Mario will also be getting his very own movie, which is being developed in partnership with the studio behind Despicable Me.
Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie starring Mario, co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri! pic.twitter.com/wVRPLIzcGJ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 1, 2018