Nintendo has planned for the Mario Bros to be busy this year. Luigi is expected to overcome his fears in Luigi's Mansion 3, arriving on Oct. 31. Good ole' Mario will have his own adventures too in the newest mobile game called Mario Kart Tour. Nintendo announced the news via Twitter, indicating a Sept. 25 release date for Android and iOS.
iPhone and iPad users can already preorder the game in the App Store. As with the other Nintendo mobile games, Mario Kart Tour is free to download and play, but of course, there will be in-app purchases that should make your gameplay better and probably a whole lot easier.
Nintendo also shared a preview of Mario Kart Tour and how it plays out. Check it out in the video below.
Considering Mario Kart's huge success, Nintendo could be seeing its biggest mobile hit. Mario Kart Tour will follow the likes of Animal Crossing Pocket Camp and Super Mario Run, as with Dr. Mario World. Any iPhone released 2013 and after can accommodate the game.
Mario Kart Tour will include courses from previous games, as well as new courses that have been designed with real-world cities in mind. As per the game description in the App Store, "These destinations will be featured in tours that rotate every two weeks!" Mario Kart Tour will be playable with just one finger and will feature online leaderboards for all your best scores.
That beta revealed Mario Kart Tour's overwrought free-to-play monetization model, involving lots of microtransactions and cool-down timers. None of it should be a surprise for anyone who's seen Nintendo's other mobile games, like Fire Emblem Heroes and Dr. Mario World, but it's possible the company might have tweaked the balance following feedback from the beta.
There will be 3 racers available in Mario Kart Tour and iconic items will make appearances as well. The beta only featured a single-player option, but we're not sure as of writing if the final release will add a multiplayer option.
Reports of Mario Kart being locked to vertical screen orientation have emerged, and again, Nintendo hasn't said anything if this will continue on the final release.
Mario Kart Tour was originally set for a late March launch, but Nintendo delayed the game to Summer 2019. That's only a few weeks from now, so ready your Android and iOS devices and enjoy this new adventure by the Mario Bros.
