Nintendo to Shut Down Mario Kart Tour on September 30
Nintendo is ending Mario Kart Tour, a seven-year-old mobile game, on September 30, with no plans for an offline version. The game's digital currency sales have stopped, and auto-renewals for the Gold Pass are no longer available. Players with paid subscriptions will retain access to most Gold Pass content until the game's shutdown.
Key points
- Nintendo is shutting down Mario Kart Tour on September 30, with service ending on September 29 at 11:00 p.m. PT / September 30 at 8:00 a.m. CEST.
- The company will not release an offline version of the game.
- Nintendo stopped updating Mario Kart Tour with new content in late 2023, effectively placing it in maintenance mode.
- Players with paid Gold Pass subscriptions will retain access to most content until the game's shutdown.
- The Gold Pass, which includes extra in-game rewards, will be available for free to all players starting August 5.
Nintendo's decision to end Mario Kart Tour marks the end of a seven-year run for the mobile game. The company had stopped updating the game with new content in late 2023, placing it in maintenance mode. Despite this, Nintendo had continued to sell the game's digital currency and offer the Gold Pass, which included extra in-game rewards and challenges.
The shutdown of Mario Kart Tour is not a surprise, given the company's lack of updates and investment in the game. However, the decision to not release an offline version of the game may be seen as a disappointment to fans who had grown accustomed to playing the game on the go.
The Gold Pass, which had been a key part of the game's appeal, will be available for free to all players starting August 5. This means that players who had not previously purchased the pass will be able to access its content, including the 200cc mode.
Nintendo's decision to end Mario Kart Tour does not necessarily signal the end of the company's involvement in mobile gaming. The company has previously stated that it will continue to develop and release mobile games, and it is likely that we will see new titles from Nintendo in the future.
Sources
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