In what is easily the most surprising gaming news of 2022 so far, it appears that Mario Kart 9 could debut in some fashion this year. Whether or not we'll be able to get our hand on the game is another story entirely but it would be nice to see something from the next game in the hugely popular franchise.
Let's take a look at where this surprise update has come from and what it means for Switch owners this year!
Mario Kart 9 is In Development!
First and foremost, it's great to hear that Mario Kart 9 is officially in development. This comes via Dr Serkan Toto and his predictions for 2022 via GameIndustry.biz
"I am aware Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling very well on the Nintendo Switch, but Mario Kart 9 is in active development,"
It's welcome news for fans of the franchise as, despite the popularity and sheer quality of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a new entry in the franchise is desperately needed. We'd be keen to see Nintendo invest in a competitive esports scene for the game when it releases too.
A 'New Twist' is being teased
Now for the more speculative side of this story. It's also being teased that something new may be coming alongside the new instalment. Dr Toto hinted that a 'new twist' could be introduced.
Nothing further was stated beyond this leaving fans letting their imaginations run wild on social media. There have been cries for something completely new to the Mario Kart franchise while some have stated that there are features that they would like to see return.
Whether it is the former or latter, anything new coming to the franchise is well worth getting excited about. When it comes to arcade kart racing, no game has ever done it better and it has more than enough goodwill saved up to take a few risks.