Nintendo's 'Mario Kart Tour' Game for iOS Launching on September 25

[MacRumors]

Nintendo's newest game, Mario Kart Tour, is set to launch on iOS devices on September 25, the company announced on Twitter this afternoon.

Starting in May, Nintendo has offered a beta version of the game to a few limited users in the United States and Japan, but the title is nearly ready for a wider launch.

As with the console version of the game, Mario Kart Tour is a kart racer title set in the Mushroom Kingdom. Players are tasked with racing to beat their rivals to the finish line using drifts and items to gain an edge.

Based on reports from the beta, the game uses the same single-handed control scheme as Nintendo's first major iOS game, Super Mario Run. Players are able to swipe their thumb across the screen to control their kart while the kart accelerates on its own.

The default controls cause karts to drift around corners, but those who want more of a challenge or more control can activate manual mode. There are four levels of difficulty to choose from, and the game features the same soundtrack used in previous Mario Kart titles.

Tracks within the game were 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 will be 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.

Nintendo suggests players who are interested in the game follow the official Mario Kart Tour Twitter account as there's more info on gameplay to come ahead of launch. Pre-orders on the App Store are available starting today, with users able to get a notification when the game launches. [Direct Link]



Article Link: Nintendo's 'Mario Kart Tour' Game for iOS Launching on September 25

 

[thelead]

Nintendo is going to make a ton of money off of this... all while building up the fan-base.

 

[Madmic23]

I don’t like the idea of Mario Kart having in-app purchases.

 

[AppleFan91]

This CAN be a huge hit. But if it’s loaded with paywalls and uses the “oops, you’re out of gas after 5 mins of gameplay, you can wait 462 days or pay $.99!” Then it will harm their rollout of mobile games. I really wish they’d go the Super Mario Run route - top shelf game for $9.99. I know it probably won’t make as much money as the freemium junk, but with rumors that it’s already P2W like crazy in the beta, I just really hope they reconsider.

 

[Mobster1983]

YES YES YES YES YES!! Been waiting for Mario Kart since the iPhone first came out!

 

[pioneer9k]

Damn I was hoping it would be more like Mario Kart DS

 

[dannyyankou]

They didn't quite meet that Summer 2019 target...

 

[rjp1]

After getting burned on Mario Run, I’m not buying any more of their stuff on iOS.

 

[alexhardaker]

I’ll stick with the Nintendo Switch version, thanks. They should join Apple Arcade

 

[SeaFox]

Playable characters include Luigi, Toad, Shy Guy, Waluigi, Peach, Toadette, and others, and some characters will be 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.

I know they said "and others" but since they mentioned Luigi it appears Mario himself is not even included in his own game without paying more. *snort*

 

[ghostface147]

I will buy this under the right conditions. None of the you’ve run out of lives, pay to gain more lives or wait X amount of time to get a life. I won’t mind in app purchases of things to get, but only if you can work to get the same things. But not stupid hard work that the option to pay would be better. I know, I’m asking for a lot. Or am I?

 

[dumastudetto]

This is going to be the biggest selling and most grossly profitable game in the history of gaming.

I can't wait.

 

[Service Droid]

After getting burned on Mario Run, I’m not buying any more of their stuff on iOS.

Good thing it's free to play then I guess

 

[Dr. James]

I really wish they’d go the Super Mario Run route - top shelf game for $9.99.

I only wish the game could be played offline.

 

[jetison]

Is this going to be released Worldwide or in a staged release?

 

[ryanmp]

Ah yes Freemium.. the scourge of the App Store. Definitely giving this one a miss

 

[Juicy Box]

They didn't quite meet that Summer 2019 target...

A few days late isn't too bad.

Apple has had similar lapses in target dates in the past, too, along with many other companies.

One of my favorites was Amazon announcing a Prime Video app on tvOS by the end of 2015, and we all know how that went.

 

[CrysisDeu]

Why not just a full version of the game
[doublepost=1566875881][/doublepost]

This is going to be the biggest selling and most grossly profitable game in the history of gaming.

I can't wait.

It will bring some profit.
Most profitable? No it won’t.
[doublepost=1566875999][/doublepost]

I’ll stick with the Nintendo Switch version, thanks. They should join Apple Arcade

They should release a full original gameplay version and join arcade. Arcade will sell crazy.
Tbh, arcade should bring console games, even pc games to mobile. Apple boasts a12x to have xbox performance anyway.

 

[SoldOnApple]

I don’t like the idea of Mario Kart having in-app purchases.

I like the idea of Mario Kart being free. Nintendo games always hold their value and are never cheap.

 

[SDJim]

Single-handed operation for a kart racing game??? Hard pass.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Nintendo is going to make a ton of money off of this... all while building up the fan-base.

Yeah I cannot ignore this classic! Now I wish Donkey Kong would get the same love from Nintendo ... after all he’s the real big boss and has been around as long as Mario and was initially more prominent in advertising ... after all Mario started in Kong’s game not the other way around.

 

[glindon]

Ah yes Freemium.. the scourge of the App Store. Definitely giving this one a miss

The last time I bought games was when the AppleTV first came out just so I could try them out. A few days ago I went on my iPad to look at games and I must have spent 30+ minutes looking for a game that I could just buy that was worth it. Needless to say no game was purchased. Freemium has ruined the App Store.

 

[Aditya rathee]

I hope it supports 60 fps
Will look awesome on my ipad

 

[TwoBytes]

This CAN be a huge hit. But if it’s loaded with paywalls and uses the “oops, you’re out of gas after 5 mins of gameplay, you can wait 462 days or pay $.99!” Then it will harm their rollout of mobile games. I really wish they’d go the Super Mario Run route - top shelf game for $9.99. I know it probably won’t make as much money as the freemium junk, but with rumors that it’s already P2W like crazy in the beta, I just really hope they reconsider.

This!!
It's the exact reason games like Mario Kart were fun to play, addictive, stress-free. This monetisation I understand but really takes away from the gameplay.

 

[Pakaku]

I'm using tilt controls!