Mario Kart Tourfeels like the inevitable result of integrating games into mobile devices. An endless, simplified version ofMario Kartthat can be played on the go is an appealing concept that reaches every possible demographic. However, with it comes the pile of burdens that usually accompany mobile games, from microtransactions to the mobile title overshadowing the game it spawned from.Pokemon GOis an example of a similar fate, shaping the public perception of thePokemonfranchise to the point whereGOis the biggest phenomenon related to the series since the first generation’s release 25 years ago.
With it now being officially part of theMario Kartseries and being readily accessible compared to its predecessors,Mario Kart Tourhas a chance of being the most recognizable and financially successful game in the series at the expense of its peers. This case gets more worrisome with the announcement of theMario Kart 8 Deluxe“Booster Course Pass” DLC. The aforementioned downloadable content will include tracks fromMario Kart Touras part of the remastered courses, officially elevatingTourto the same level as games likeMario Kart 64,Double Dash, andWii. While givingToursome spotlight is good, Nintendo should not go overboard with theTourrepresentation in the DLC.
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The Problem With Focusing on Mario Kart Tour
It is clear thatMario Kartfans have been asking Nintendo to reveal new content for years now.Mario Kart 8 Deluxemarked the first instance in the series aside from the awkward Virtual Boy era where a new game was not developed for a newly released Nintendo system, and was instead replaced by an updated version of an older game. In short, it has been eight years since the last new consoleMario Kart, anddespite theMario Kart 9rumors, Nintendo wants to keepMario Kart 8 Deluxeon life support for at least an additional year.
The announcement’s focus onMario Kart Touris not just a case of biases formed by a novelty factor. There are some implications that the DLC will rely onTourfor content. Out of the tracks confirmed to be part of the “Booster Course Pack”, the only ones to have never appeared in a previousMario Kartgame were theMario Kart Tourtracks. Additionally, the visuals are different from the courses that are already inMario Kart 8 Deluxe, especially the lighting. Analysis from fans has determined that even tracks that were previously remastered, like Coconut Mall and Choco Mountain, are ripped fromMario Kart Tour.
While there is a chance that the tracks are simply not finalized, the fact that they look like they do when the first wave is coming out soon is worrisome. More cynicalMario Kartfans are rightfully concerned that Nintendo is taking shortcuts for the DLC’s development and is only pumping new tracks out five years after Deluxe’s release to appease demanding fans. If this truly is Nintendo’s mindset, thenMario Kart Tourwill surely dominate the DLCand turn it into a missed opportunity.
