The nextMario Kartgame is looking to be a big release for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. First teased at the announcement of Nintendo’s new console, this newMario Karttitle will serve as the first wholly new game in the franchise since 2014’sMario Kart 8. Considering that title’s success - especially when it received its Nintendo Switch re-releaseMario Kart 8 Deluxe- the next title will surely be a major system seller for Nintendo’s next-generation system.
Asthe nextMario Kartgamehas only been teased, gamers are still patiently waiting to hear more about the game’s new features and content. So far, the only noteworthy feature teased is an increase to 24-player races, as opposed to the usual 12-player races. The new game could do itself wonders if it builds on one ofMario Kart 8’s biggest elements: its crossover appearances.
Mario Kart 9 Should Continue Its Nintendo Crossovers
Animal Crossing Should Have A Presence In Mario Kart 9
The upcomingMario Kartgame should build onMario Kart 8’sAnimal Crossingcrossover elementsthis time around.Mario Kart 8was the first mainlineMario Kartgame to feature noteworthy crossovers with other Nintendo IPs, both in the form of new courses and new playable characters. This game featured elements from franchises likeThe Legend of Zelda,F-Zero, andExcitebike, while the Deluxe re-release even added characters fromSplatoon.
Animal Crossingwas not left out of the race, either, as the original Wii U version’s second downloadable content pack included content based on the franchise. This set of DLC includedanAnimal Crossing-based courseand also added playable characters in the form of a Villager and Isabelle. If the ninthMario Kartgame chooses to continue adding crossovers with other Nintendo franchises, there’s plenty of reason to keep addingAnimal Crossingcontent.
New Horizons Gives Mario Kart More Animal Crossing Content To Work With
In the long time gap sinceMario Kart 8’s release (and re-release), theAnimal Crossingfranchise has gottena new game inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. The 2020 Nintendo Switch game was a smash hit for Nintendo, serving as the second-highest-selling game on the platform, only behindMario Kart 8 Deluxe. The release ofNew Horizonsmeans that the nextMario Kartgame has more to work with than before, and its incredible popularity gives Nintendo some extra impetus to expand on its previous crossover elements.
Even if the game doesn’t add content fromNew Horizonsspecifically, there’s room to add another playable character or two from theAnimal Crossingfranchise. While Villager and Isabelle are great picks in and of themselves, the popularity of characters like Tom Nook and K.K. Slider would make them worthy additions to the nextMario Kartgame.If Nintendo wants to expandMario Kart’s contentto make room for further Nintendo characters,Animal Crossingseems like one of the first franchises to benefit from a roster expansion.
The release ofNew Horizonsmeans that the nextMario Kartgame has more to work with than before, and its incredible popularity gives Nintendo some extra impetus to expand on its previous crossover elements.
Mario Kart 9 Could Help Cross-Promote The Next Animal Crossing Game
Adding moreAnimal Crossingcontent to the nextMario Kartgame could also serve as a great cross-promotional opportunity for the nextAnimal Crossinggame on the Switch 2. Given the popularity ofNew Horizons, it’s reasonable to assume that Nintendo could be hard at work onthe nextAnimal Crossingtitleright now, perhaps even planning to have it ready to go close to the Switch 2’s launch. Thus, if the two games are released close enough to each other, aMario Kartcrossover could be a great opportunity to get fans excited for the nextAnimal Crossinggame.
Mario Kart 8shows that Nintendo is willing to expand its rosters and stages to accommodate other Nintendo franchises without explicitly calling the gameNintendo Kart. With the nextMario Kartgame on the way, Nintendo has a great opportunity to expand on the crossover elements and give other Nintendo franchises some shine. If that crossover content is to continue on the Switch 2,Animal Crossingshould absolutely be one of the biggest franchises to receive increased representation in Nintendo’s iconic kart racer.
