Next Mario Kart Game Currently In Development, Analyst Says

"Mario Kart 8" was first released on the Wii U in 2014, with many critics calling it the best installment in the series to date. Alongside the Nintendo Switch’s launch in 2017, the Japanese gaming giant released "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe", an updated port of the Wii U game with a few added twists, but nothing definitive enough to call it a new installment. According to a Tokyo-based analyst, however, it seems like "Mario Kart 9" is currently in development, and Nintendo could “tease it this year.”

Kantan Games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto said in an article that he is “aware Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling very well on the Nintendo Switch, but Mario Kart 9 is in active development (and comes with a new twist).”

Toto also believes that Nintendo will add one of their franchises to mobile devices, stating that it "has been very silent since Mario Kart Tour's launch in 2019... 2022 is when we will see an established IP arriving on smart devices again."

Mario Kart Tour is a free-to-play mobile game available on Android and iOS.

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is the best-selling entry in the series, selling 38.74 million copies to date, according to data from Nintendo. Despite releasing almost four years ago, it still sells incredibly well and often finds itself as one of the t0p selling games per week.

It will be interesting to note the validity of Toto’s claim, as Nintendo has never released more than one "Mario Kart" entry per console.