# 7 Years Later, the Most Hotly Debated ‘Mario Kart’ Game Is Officially Shutting Down

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/7-years-later-the-most-hotly-debated-mario-kart-game-is-officially-shutting-down/
- Published: 2026-07-12T22:45:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Collider
- Original article: https://collider.com/mario-kart-tour-shutting-down-7-years-later-september-29/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Nintendo is shutting down Mario Kart Tour on September 29, 2026, ending the mobile game's controversial eight-year run
- The game faced widespread criticism for its gacha monetization system, though Nintendo shifted to an item shop and subscription model in 2022
- Some tracks migrate to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; no offline version is planned

## Summary

Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo's free-to-play mobile racing game launched in 2018, is being discontinued as one of the franchise's most divisive entries. The game generated significant revenue through a gacha system requiring real-money expenditure to unlock desired vehicles and racers, a monetization approach that frustrated players despite Nintendo's 2022 shift to an item shop and subscription model.

The service ends in late September with in-game purchases and auto-renewals already suspended. Nintendo confirmed players receive complimentary Gold Pass access through the shutdown date, but explicitly ruled out an offline paid alternative like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp received. Several Tour tracks have already transferred to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via its Booster Course Pass, though others will be permanently removed from Nintendo's active library.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.