Nintendo has announced the discontinuation of “Mario Kart Tour,” with its online service ending on September 30. Due to its requirement for a constant internet connection, the game will become completely unplayable on iOS and Android devices post-shutdown. Nintendo has also stated that there are no plans for an offline version, leading to widespread disappointment among its player base.
Implications of the Shutdown
According to a statement on the official support page, Nintendo has already halted the sale of in-game currency, Rubies. Players can still spend their remaining Rubies until the service ends, using them in the Highlight Shop, Mii Outfit Shop, and the Coin Rush. However, new subscriptions for the “Gold Pass” have been discontinued, and existing subscriptions will not automatically renew.
Players with an active Gold Pass as of July 8 will retain its benefits until the shutdown date for free. Other players will receive these Gold Pass advantages at no cost starting August 5. Overall, players can continue enjoying “Mario Kart Tour” without limitation until the official closure, after which the game will no longer function.
The Rise and Fall of “Mario Kart Tour”
Launched in September 2019, “Mario Kart Tour” marked Nintendo’s first venture into mobile gaming for the franchise. While the game was free to download, Nintendo monetized it through in-app purchases. Players could unlock new characters, karts, and gliders with the premium currency, Rubies. Initially, three Rubies were priced at €2.30, while the largest package of 135 Rubies cost €75. Additionally, a Gold Pass subscription, available for €5.50 per month, unlocked the fast-paced 200cc class.
The game faced significant backlash, particularly for its “Pipe” loot box mechanics, which allowed players to spend five Rubies for random content. This led to criticism from various quarters and resulted in “Mario Kart Tour” being unavailable for download in Belgium due to local gambling regulations. By October 2022, Nintendo removed the Pipes and replaced them with a fixed-price shop.
Commercially, “Mario Kart Tour” had a strong start, achieving 90 million downloads within its first week, making it the most successful mobile launch in Nintendo’s history, according to market researchers at Sensor Tower. By 2021, the game had accumulated over 200 million downloads and generated more than $200 million in revenue. However, the mobile segment has consistently contributed a small fraction of Nintendo’s total revenue. Since October 2023, “Mario Kart Tour” received no new content, and its bi-weekly tour seasons began to repeat.
Reasons Behind the Shutdown
Nintendo has not provided specific reasons for the game’s permanent shutdown. Still, the move fits a broader trend where the company has gradually withdrawn from the mobile gaming market. Titles such as “Miitomo,” “Dr. Mario World,” and “Dragalia Lost” have also been discontinued over the past few years, with “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp” expected to close its servers by late 2024.
Interestingly, in the case of “Pocket Camp,” Nintendo released a paid offline version shortly after shutting down the servers, allowing players to carry over their save data. Unfortunately, “Mario Kart Tour” players are offered no such option. Those who spent money on Rubies or the Gold Pass will lose access to all game content without any compensation once the service ends.
This circumstance has revived discussions around game preservation and consumer rights. Initiatives like “Stop Killing Games” advocate for games to remain playable offline after support ceases. With approximately 1.3 million signatures gathered in the EU, the movement seeks legal obligations for game companies to maintain offline availability. However, the EU Commission has rejected this initiative, citing copyright concerns as a rationale.
