Nintendo has announced plans to shut down Mario Kart Tour on iOS and Android, making it completely unplayable later this year. The Mario Kart mobile spinoff originally made its debut all the way back in 2019, and despite mixed reviews, went on to attract millions of players and make millions of pounds.
However, things have been quiet in the world of Mario Kart Tour since 2023, which is when Nintendo stopped adding new content to the game. The company has now decided to scrap Mario Kart Tour completely, beginning on September 29 (or September 30 for UK players).
“Service for the Mario Kart Tour game for smart devices will come to an end as of 11:00 p.m. Pacific on September 29,” reads a Nintendo post.
“We sincerely thank the many players who have loved and supported the game since service began so long ago. Thank you for playing Mario Kart Tour.”
For UK players, Mario Kart Tour will be canned at 7am BST on the morning of September 30. That’s 8am CET in Europe.
It’s worth noting that the game will not have an offline mode, meaning it will no longer be playable whether you already have the game or not.
Nintendo has also stopped selling in-game currency for Mario Kart Tour, and will no longer renew Gold Passes.
If you already have some Rubies to spend in your game, you’ll be able to purchase items from the Spotlight Shop, Mii Racing Suit Shop, and in Coin Rush until the game shuts down.
Needless to say, the decision to shut down Mario Kart Tour comes at something of a contentious time in the gaming world.
Sony recently announced plans to stop releasing physical discs for PlayStation consoles beginning in 2028.
The announcement was made just days after Sony removed digital movies that customers had paid for after the licenses ran out.
While Mario Kart Tour is a bit different because it’s free-to-play, some fans may feel a bit miffed at Nintendo’s decision, especially if they’ve pumped lots of money into the game.
