Nintendo and DeNA announced that they will be discontinuing new content for the popular mobile game Mario Kart Tour starting from October 4th. This decision has led to speculation that Nintendo may be shifting its focus away from mobile games in the future.
Before the discontinuation, the companies will be releasing new Mario Kart Tour content as part of its Anniversary Tour, which is set to begin on September 20th. However, after the Battle Tour’s launch on October 4th, only old content will be released, meaning no new courses, drivers, karts, or gliders will be added to the game.
While Nintendo has not provided an official explanation for this decision, the company has expressed hope that players will continue to enjoy playing Mario Kart Tour despite the lack of new content. It is worth noting that Mario Kart Tour became Nintendo’s second highest-earning mobile game, bringing in approximately $243 million in revenue and being downloaded a staggering 230 million times.
However, despite this success, mobile games still make up a relatively small portion of Nintendo’s overall earnings. Competitors like Activision and Take-Two have had far greater success in the mobile gaming market. In fact, Nintendo has already ended support for five out of their eight major mobile games since entering the market in 2016, including Mario Kart Tour.
Additionally, the removal of the game’s controversial gacha system, which allowed players to purchase randomized in-game items, led to a decline in monthly earnings by $1 million. This further highlights the challenges that Nintendo has faced in the mobile gaming industry.
Interestingly, while Nintendo’s mobile gaming endeavors may be faltering, other competitors like Sony are entering the business and planning to expand their presence in the mobile gaming market. Sony aims to have around half of its games available on mobile and PC platforms by 2025, indicating a potential shift in the gaming landscape.
As for Nintendo, only time will tell if their decision to discontinue new content for Mario Kart Tour signifies a larger shift away from mobile games or if it is simply a temporary adjustment. Fans of the game will have to wait and see what lies ahead for the beloved franchise on their mobile devices.
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