Mario Kart 9 is in development with a “big change” according to reports

The latest Mario Kart has been a huge success for Nintendo, but it looks like the successor (Mario Kat 9) is finally nearing the development finish line.

According to a gaming industry consultant, Mario Kart 9 is in the works and will include a “new twist,” as if we’d expect anything less from Nintendo.

Speaking to GamesIndustry, Kantan Games consultant Dr. Serkan Toto gave several predictions for 2022, but one of them was more of an internal scoop than a prediction. Toto said that Mario Kart 9 is in development now, noting that Mario Kart as a brand has been relatively quiet since the mobile-only Mario Kart Tour launched a few years ago.

“I am aware that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling very well on Nintendo Switch, but Mario Kart 9 is in active development (and comes with a new twist) and Nintendo could introduce it this year,” said.

With the Nintendo Switch already approaching its fifth anniversary, will this new game appear on the Switch, or will it come to whatever system is planned next? That remains to be seen, as does Nintendo’s confirmation of the game’s existence, but it would be unlike the company having more than one Mario Kart game on a system.

That’s never happened before, with the SNES, GBA, N64, GameCube, DS, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, and Switch only receiving one game, unless you count the physical kart spin-off Mario Kart Live. However, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which sold nearly 39 million units, was an upgraded version of the Wii U version, so it’s possible Nintendo made an exception.