April 17 is Suddenly a Big Day For Super Mario Fans

Mario Kart World was one of the biggest games to grace the latest Nintendo Direct event, and its announcement finally confirmed the title of the long-awaited racing game. Not only did eager gamers get a confirmed date for the Switch 2’s release, it was also revealed that Mario Kart World will be available as a launch title for Nintendo’s forthcoming console. Between an official release date, a new Mario Kart entry, and a treasure trove of other games, 2025 is shaping up to be a massive year for Nintendo fans.

Even better, though, is that those who are excited about Mario Kart World don’t have to wait much longer for a deeper dive into the next big chapter in the franchise, as the game is set to get its very own Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct event on April 17. In just a couple of weeks, fans of the beloved racing series will get a more in-depth look at what’s in store when the game launches this summer.

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April 17 is Set to Bring Mario Kart World Into the Spotlight

Every Feature Confirmed For Mario Kart World, So Far

• 24-player races
• Dynamic weather conditions
• New gameplay features, like rail grinding, kart transformations, and wall jumping
• Two new game modes: Free Roam and Knockout Tour
• New playable characters, like a cow from Moo Moo Meadows, Nabbit, and a Chargin’ Chuck

The first look at Mario Kart World that was offered at the Nintendo Direct showcase already gave players a look at a number of major changes and upgrades that have been made for the upcoming game. Free Roam serves as the franchise’s first-ever open-world, exploration-focused mode, while Knockout Tour seemingly takes a note from Fall Guys, tasking players with keeping up with a race’s minimum finishing place in order to advance on to the next level.

Fans who want even more details about the new features will want to mark April 17 on their calendars, as the special Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct broadcast is bound to go over these upgrades in greater depth. There’s also the chance that there are even more surprising features in store for fans to learn about. Nintendo came out swinging with huge announcements during its first Switch 2 Direct, and the excitement from this recent event makes the prospect of even more news on April 17 that much more thrilling.

The Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Shake Up an Already Huge Year For Gaming

Before the year even started, 2025 was already promising to be massive for gamers. Between the mounting anticipation for GTA 6 and the onslaught of other major releases, including early-year hits like Split Fiction and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, 2025 already has so much to offer. Now that the Switch 2 is set to make waves this summer, alongside releases like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, the year has gotten even stronger.

Right now, it’s unclear exactly what Nintendo has in store for the special Mario Kart World event on April 17, but subjects like character roster and the new game modes are bound to be discussed. From third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077 to brand-new Nintendo exclusives, the Switch 2 is promising an exciting new era for the company.

When April 17 does arrive, it will be fascinating to see what other features Mario Kart World boasts that set it apart from its predecessors. The Mario Kart franchise has become one of the most iconic series in the racing game genre, and it will be exciting to see how much further Mario Kart World helps it evolve.

Systems

Released

June 2, 2025

ESRB

Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo