'Mario Kart Tour' Now Available for iPhone and iPad

[MacRumors]

Nintendo's newest game, Mario Kart Tour, got its global rollout today for iPhone and iPad, following a closed beta test in the United States and Japan.

The kart racer title for mobile is set in the Mushroom Kingdom, where players are tasked with racing to beat their rivals to the finish line using drifts and items to gain an edge. Players slide their fingers across the screen to turn, while tapping the screen unleashes stored items.

For the first two weeks the tour takes place in a New York City-styled course, with other locations being rotated in every couple of weeks. Track shave been taken from prior versions of Mario Kart, including Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash, and Mario Kart 7. Nintendo has also included Grand Prix cups that offer a collection of tracks to race through.

Playable characters include Luigi, Toad, Shy Guy, Waluigi, Peach, Toadette, and others, and some characters are unlockable through in-app purchases. This is a freemium title that's free to download, which means Nintendo is monetizing it through in-game purchases.

The game also has an optional "Gold Pass" subscription, which introduces various in-game items and badges and also unlocks the faster 200cc mode. Nintendo is offering a two-week free trial, after which it costs $4.99 a month. The five-minute video embedded below explains how it all works.

Mario Kart is a free download from the App Store, requires iOS 10 or later to play, and officially supports iPhone 5s or iPad Air and later devices. A Nintendo Account is also required to play the game. [Direct Link]

Update: As of writing, the game's servers are currently experiencing heavy traffic and Nintendo is queueing login requests, so it might be a while yet before everyone can get racing.

Article Link: 'Mario Kart Tour' Now Available for iPhone and iPad

 

[1BadManVan]

Servers experiencing heavy traffic lol

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Will it be available for tvOS?

 

[HacKage]

£60 a year to play a mobile game, the same price many AAA console and PC games cost to buy outright and play for as long as you like?

if they offered this as a £10-15 upfront charge game, then I would probably be all over it. But the freemium model stinks, and paying £5pm to unlock the full game is disgusting. Unfortunately it will probably be a hit regardless, and the developers will continue these crappy tactics.

 

[Icaras]

£60 a year to play a mobile game, the same price many AAA console and PC games cost to buy outright and play for as long as you like?

if they offered this as a £10-15 upfront charge game, then I would probably be all over it. But the freemium model stinks, and paying £5pm to unlock the full game is disgusting. Unfortunately it will probably be a hit regardless, and the developers will continue these crappy tactics.

Yea. I can’t believe there‘s a $4.99 subscription price here in the US. I know this is Mario Kart, and I love Nintendo, but jeez, it’s the same price as Arcade

 

[Jim Lahey]

I feel that the business model of these mobile Nintendo games sullies their reputation and heritage.

Quite literally a mug's game. No thanks.

 

[CBlakeston]

£60 a year to play a mobile game, the same price many AAA console and PC games cost to buy outright and play for as long as you like?

That’s the start price of AAA games these days. Then there’s the £100 a year season pass to get extra content and access in game features. So in comparison this is still pretty cheap. 😁

 

[dan9700]

why is every game portrait I want landscape like a proper game
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horrible graphics and bad gameplay, they need to stop making these games one handed portrait games, like Mario which no one liked

 

[GadgetBen]

why is every game portrait I want landscape like a proper game
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horrible graphics and bad gameplay, they need to stop making these games one handed portrait games, like Mario which no one liked

Agreed, the game should offer landscape mode. I like the idea of the quick gesture controls but how about a landscape mode with floating control pad Nintendo?

 

[dan9700]

Agreed, the game should offer landscape mode. I like the idea of the quick gesture controls but how about a landscape mode with floating control pad Nintendo?

Yeah it’s horrible using one hand, let us play like the original

 

[bbednarz]

No landscape and you cant steer by turning the phone? I figured those would be no brainers. Also, no online? This had potential to be huge, I think it'll just be mediocre now. Well see. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little disappointed.

 

[dan9700]

No landscape and you cant steer by turning the phone? I figured those would be no brainers. Also, no online? This had potential to be huge, I think it'll just be mediocre now. Well see. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little disappointed.

After how bad mario was, I’ve given up with Nintendo deleted it after 5min

 

[GregJohn]

7$ a month.. seriousLy? Plus rubies that aren’t cheap, and a pack for Mario thats 30$. Yeah...

 

[69Mustang]

IAP and an optional subscription. Nintendo went full Spinal Tap - Turnt Up to 11... and they will most likely rake in a boatload.

 

[AngstyKylo]

I feel that the business model of these mobile Nintendo games sullies their reputation and heritage.

Quite literally a mug's game. No thanks.

They tried the one time £5 way with Super Mario Run, it didn't generate as much as their pay to play titles. It's horrible but I think you can blame the consumer just as much here.

 

[GregJohn]

They tried the one time £5 way with Super Mario Run, it didn't generate as much as their pay to play titles. It's horrible but I think you can blame the consumer just as much here.

yes but this is overboard. People will pay for a good game, I’d be fine withIAP and a 5-15$ one time fee not IAP and monthly sub model

 

[Jim Lahey]

They tried the one time £5 way with Super Mario Run, it didn't generate as much as their pay to play titles. It's horrible but I think you can blame the consumer just as much here.

Yeah maybe. You won't get any argument from me there. I just personally feel that Nintendo have kinda cheapened themselves in recent years. The halcyon days of the N64/GameCube are far far behind us. I know that sounds like misty eyed "back in my day!" sentiment, but it's how I feel now about their brand.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Not falling for IAP to play and IAP to upgrade model. I'm spending my $5 on tens of games, some with exceptional graphics and stories, on Apple Arcade without IAP and ads.

 

[JosephAW]

Always requires internet? No thanks. 99% of games that require this are deleted immediately here.

 

[GermanSuplex]

Game feels mediocre at best. $4.99 a month is absurd for this.

 

[johannnn]

Over the last 24h or whenever when AppStore gave me a preorder notification, I’ve tried to launch the game at least 100 times. Still doesn’t work... What’s up with their server? Aren’t they used to online now with the Switch?

 

[Lionel Messi]

Game feels mediocre at best. $4.99 a month is absurd for this.

Agreed. Turning is quite awkward and usually not immediately responsive.

 

[Jsameds]

Cheaper to get a 2nd hand Switch. Better too.

 

[GadgetBen]

You can steer using the phone. After the tutorial change this in settings

 

[B4U]

No landscape and you cant steer by turning the phone? I figured those would be no brainers. Also, no online? This had potential to be huge, I think it'll just be mediocre now. Well see. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little disappointed.

You can steer by tilting the phone if you change it in the settings.