While we may still have questions around Switch 2's pricing and mouse controls, extensive hands-on time with Nintendo's new console has left us in no doubt of one thing: Mario Kart World is an absolute banger.
Join us today as we hear more directly from Nintendo on its biggest Switch 2 launch title, and - if you're not sold yet - maybe you'll see something that ultimately helps justify Mario Kart World's standalone £75/$80 cost.
Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct kicks off at 2pm UK time - that's 9am Eastern, or a 6am Pacific if you're over the pond - and is set to last for around 15 minutes. We'll be reporting live - let us know what you want to see!
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Key points
-
And that's a wrap!
-
Open world mode collectibles glimpsed
-
Battle Mode and Time Trials return
-
Rainbow Road confirmed!
-
And we're off!
-
Where's Rainbow Road?
-
Start your engines...
Start your engines...
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of today's Mario Kart World Direct, which is set to air at 2pm UK time. Let's get revved up.
– Tom Phillips
Looking to catch up on what we know so far?
I went hands-on with Mario Kart World immediately after the Switch 2 was revealed, and came away very impressed indeed. It is clearly the console's killer app - and a bold reinvention of the series' familiar gameplay.
"Mario Kart World's reinvention of the series may be a gamble, but it's absolutely one I think will pay off," I wrote earlier this month. "With a web of possible routes and hours of time likely to be spent exploring every corner of its highways, deserts and mountains - or racing to stay ahead of the competition in Knockout Tour - it's just as well the game's a Switch 2 launch title. I absolutely can't wait to play more."
– Tom Phillips
Rahmus says: I'm revved up for this! Played it at the weekend and loved how bloody stressful the knockout tour mode was, really hoping that carries over into an expansive online component.Also: dare we dream for a Diddy Kong Racing-style story mode?
Yes! Knockout Tour - the game's new battle royale-inspired survival mode - is definitely the star of the show. Glad you enjoyed!
– Tom Phillips
Eurogamer's Ian Higton discusses his hands-on time with Mario Kart World here. Did we like it? Spoilers: yes, we really did.
– Tom Phillips
ganpondorodf says: I want it because it's Mario Kart and I always love Mario Kart, but $80 is absurd for any game. The writing was on the wall when they charged $70 for Zelda I suppose, and it's only gonna get worse...
One thing I've wondered about today is whether we'll see Mario Kart World's post-launch support detailed, and whether the price is designed to include access to all of that - rather than a season pass. Time will tell.
– Tom Phillips
As a reminder, Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser has responded to Mario Kart World's higher price tag and said it was simply an example of Nintendo's new "variable pricing" policy, which in this case reflected the "breadth and depth of the gameplay".
– Tom Phillips
Where's Rainbow Road?
What are you looking to see revealed today? For me, it's the situation with Rainbow Road - perhaps the series' most iconic track.
When shown previously, Mario Kart World's map omitted all mention of the location - but an early reveal from Nintendo's own website has shown it will be present somehow. Today it seems likely we'll hear more.
– Tom Phillips
Yardsale19X says: Tom what are you hoping for?I'd love a co-op mode, one person driving and the other on items, on special 2 person karts like in Double Dash. It's my favourite way of playing Mario Kart. Seems very, very unlikely, though.
Honestly, and not just as someone who plays Fortnite, I would love to see a world that changes over time. There's a real oppurtunity here for Nintendo to use the game's map as a canvas for the series' future that keeps us playing for years to come.
This could be as simple as adding or replacing sections within the world each season, ensuring more of the series' classic tracks are fitted in, or the arrival of themed areas to celebrate other Nintendo franchises. Add in a DK area when Bananza arrives! Or a Hyrule map when we finally get a new Zelda. I can dream.
– Tom Phillips
Digital Foundry has been taking a look at Switch 2 and recently gave its technical verdict on Mario Kart World. How is it shaping up?
– Tom Phillips
And we're off!
Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct is live!
– Tom Phillips
-Mario-Kart-World-Direct-%E2%80%93-17042025-00-30-38.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp "Mario Kart World Direct live: watch here (5)")
Definitely no Rainbow Road there yet.
– Tom Phillips
We're starting off with a look at Mario Kart World's courses. Mario Bros Circuit is the one we've seen since the game's reveal - back in January!
Crown Coty is a built-up urban environment. Salty Salty Speedway is a coast town with canals. Starview Peak is an icy clifftop scramble. Boo Cinema is a ghostly track around a drive-in cinema.
– Tom Phillips
Classic courses Toad's Factory, Peach Beach and Wario's Galleon - which were not in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - are here embedded in World's open world.
– Tom Phillips
Any sign of Baby Pauline yet? Didn't think so.
– Tom Phillips
A tour of Grand Prix and Knock Out modes next. So far, not so much new news.
– Tom Phillips
Kami says: Pauline came out of the aether fully formed as a boss queen! XD
Don't look at those DK Bananza artwork leaks from Nintendo's website!
– Tom Phillips
Rainbow Road confirmed!
You'll unlock Rainbow Road when you beat all Grand Prix cups, Nintendo has confirmed.
-Mario-Kart-World-Direct-%E2%80%93-17042025-00-34-46.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp "Mario Kart World Direct live: watch here (6)")
– Tom Phillips
Kami says: Haha, I know Tom. Just kidding... also I just don't get the appeal of the baby characters.
Me too.
– Tom Phillips
A look at Knockout Tour provides... not much new here either. It is SO fun though.
– Tom Phillips
Moving onto items, the Coin Shell fires as normal, but trails coins behind to collect.
The Ice Flower is the fire flower, but ice.
The Hammer fires hammers which stay on the course obstacles.
Kamek transforms your rival racers...
And Mario Kart veterans will recognise the Mega Mushroom and Feather from previous entries!
– Tom Phillips
Dash Food is the official name for the outfits that are inspired by pitstop meals (and which also give you a speed boost). Once unlocked outfits can be selected from the character select screen.
– Tom Phillips
We've spotted chat is disabled for the livestream on YouTube, by the way - at least on the Nintendo UK version of the stream. No more price complaints here!
– Tom Phillips
You can charge jump now, and rewind - though of course your rivals still move in regular speed past you.
– Tom Phillips
Battle Mode and Time Trials return
Time Trials and Battle Mode are back, for those who like them. As ever, you can download ghost data to race against.
Vs Race lets you set up classic races on particular circuits or chain different tracks together.
– Tom Phillips
Free Roam looks fun but... will there be stuff to go find?
– Tom Phillips
Open world mode collectibles glimpsed
-Mario-Kart-World-Direct-%E2%80%93-17042025-00-42-22.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp "Mario Kart World Direct live: watch here (7)")
P Switches unlock blue coin missions and hidden Peach Medallions coins - though again, it's unclear what these unlock in turn.
– Tom Phillips
You can battle in up to eight-player multiplayer locally, and host two players on the same system splitscreen.
– Tom Phillips
Being able to see where in the world your friends are is a a nice touch.
– Tom Phillips
We're close to the 15-minute mark - not long left. Time for a recap of GameChat, I guess.
– Tom Phillips
I can't think of anything I'd want less than adding to the distractions with people's faces on screen, but maybe just me.
– Tom Phillips
Snowman! Helicopters! And... that's it!
– Tom Phillips
-Mario-Kart-World-Direct-%E2%80%93-17042025-00-46-52.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp "Mario Kart World Direct live: watch here (8)")
Donkey Kong can dab, confirmed. Possibly today's biggest news.
– Tom Phillips
Kami says: ... so not a lot we didn't already know about then.
Yep, today's Direct was very light on new information - some of the minor multiplayer modes and the confirmation of Rainbow Road being unlockable seem to be the biggest details here.
– Tom Phillips
There's more on today's biggest news - Nintendo's confirmation of Rainbow Road right here.
– Tom Phillips
And that's a wrap!
And we'll wrap it up there - thanks for joining everyone! Having played it, Mario Kart World is still top of my list of things to play on Switch 2, though it was slightly disappointing to see no word of how Nintendo is supporting the game beyond launch today.
Mario Kart World launches alongside the Switch 2 on 5th June.
– Tom Phillips
