The reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 unsurprisingly blew up immediately upon release, showcasing the new console's features alongside some exciting gameplay of what appears to be Mario Kart 9. Even though little was explicitly revealed about the successor to the Switch or Mario Kart 9 itself, the limited trailer has already caused wild speculation from fans over its potential features. While it hasn't been officially announced yet, one likely addition could be a massive change to the Mario Kart formula.

Setting itself apart from the competition with vibrant visuals, fun-filled party mechanics, and a wide range of accessibility options, Mario Kart still stands as a staple of the racing game genre for good reason. Mario Kart 9 already has plenty of potential when introducing new gameplay mechanics or content to experience, but it could also be a great time to shine more light on some well-deserved Mario characters. Even if the newest installment has fewer characters than its predecessor, Mario Kart 9 will still need a sizable roster to fill its newly rumored feature.

24 Players Races Could Drastically Shake Up The Mario Kart Experience

Adding Even More Chaos To The Beloved Arcade Racer

There was plenty to unpack from Mario Kart 9's limited debut on the Switch 2, but some fans like The_Rimea on X quickly noted that there seems to be room for 24 players based on the track's starting line. If this wasn't evidence enough, other s quickly pointed out that the trailer visibly showcases each of the 24 characters competing on the track in the same trace, which further confirmed this exciting new mechanic.

Given that the Switch 2 aims to be a next-generation leap over its predecessor, doubling the player count would be an easy way to showcase its high-powered technology.

An expanded lobby size for Mario Kart 9 would allow for larger-scale tracks that offer even more routes and off-roading capabilities to shake up the experience, although it would be tough to balance its more chaotic elements of mystery box power-ups like the blue shell.

Regardless of how players feel about the added chaos of 12 additional players in each race, 24-player races are likely to be one of the major mechanics around which Mario Kart 9 will revolve its additional features. With this groundbreaking addition being prominently shown in this limited trailer for Mario Kart 9, it only boosts speculation about what other exciting features Nintendo is saving for a full breakdown of the sequel with their Nintendo Direct. The newest Nintendo Direct may even confirm some leaked character concepts that would add some beloved fan favorites for the first time.

Mario Kart Has Struggled To Stand Out In Recent Years

Lacking The Excitement Of Past Mario Kart Installments

While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was a fantastic upgrade from its Wii U version, without including the mobile game Mario Kart Tour, the iconic racing franchise hasn't seen an original sequel in over a decade. While the ability to take Mario Kart on the go once more, thanks to the portability of the Switch in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, was a welcome addition, it was a bit disappointing that the console never saw the release of a full sequel.

It's more than likely that the limited hardware of the original Switch pushed back the development for Mario Kart 9, as there wasn't much room to improve on the quality and mechanics featured in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the same system.

Even the leap from the Wii or Mario Kart 7 to the Wii U with Mario Kart 8 itself didn't revolutionize the gameplay experience too significantly, with the Wii version offering arguably the biggest changes to the series. With Mario Kart Wii's introduction of half-pipes, bikes, and the staple trick system, and Mario Kart 7's gliding and underwater segments, the minor gameplay improvements of Mario Kart 8 were somewhat lackluster in comparison.

Despite the absence of revolutionary new mechanics, Mario Kart 8's gravity changes, new tracks, new items, and enhanced visuals were all more than welcome upgrades that improved the already elevated gameplay of its predecessors.

Mario Kart Is The Perfect Launch Title To Show Off The Switch 2's Hardware

Revolutionizing The Mario Kart Formula With New Technology

Even if fans will have to wait a few months to learn more about the exciting new Mario Kart entry, the supposed improvement in the Switch 2's hardware is incredibly promising for the future of the franchise. Given the lack of barriers, the presence of a pitstop, and the off-roading upgrades seen on each vehicle in the newest trailer, the rumors that Mario Kart 9 could introduce open-world gameplay to the series may be more likely than ever.

Even without the addition of open-world functionality, off-roading could be a greatly expanded mechanic in Mario Kart 9, taking advantage of larger maps and higher lobby counts to create a replayable experience with more unique routes to uncover than ever.

The supposed improvement in the Switch 2's hardware is incredibly promising for the franchise's future.

Having a new Mario Kart title released on a next-generation Nintendo console, there's an excellent chance for Mario Kart 9 to add some highly requested features fans have been waiting for years to see, like a track-building mechanic, for instance. While Nintendo might have a hard time introducing game-changing features while balancing the core Mario Kart experience fans have grown to love over the years, it's bound to be an exciting release for the series.

Hopefully, Mario Kart 9 will still allow players to adjust the number of players to their hearts' content with new customization settings. However, only time will tell if this option will be available in the full release.

Source: The_Rimea/X