Mario Kart World’s Outfits Could Be Hiding a Secret About Nintendo’s Future

Even though it’s barely been a month since its release as a Switch 2 launch title, Mario Kart World‘s character outfits have already sparked rumors about Nintendo’s hidden plans for its new console. As the latest game in the Mario Kart franchise, the changes Mario Kart World has made to the series’ formula and its traditions have undoubtedly been ambitious, ranging from its new open-world gameplay to its new rewind mechanic. However, the introduction of collectible outfits has prompted theories that future updates to this Mario Kart World cosmetic could be the key to revealing more about Nintendo’s next generation of Super Mario games.

While it may be too early for discussions about major updates or DLC for Mario Kart World, its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, has already set the precedent for post-launch content with new racers and courses. Additionally, Nintendo has updated games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to promote new Switch releases, such as Pokemon Sword and Shield, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Paper Mario: The Origami King. As a result, players might now expect the same from Mario Kart World ahead of future Switch 2 games, including those already confirmed, like Donkey Kong Bananza, or those rumored to be in development.

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Mario Kart World’s Character Outfits Could Be More Than Cosmetic

As a first for the series, the challenge of having twenty-four racers compete simultaneously in Mario Kart World‘s new Knockout Tour mode likely factored into the game’s larger pool of 50 playable characters. But while these characters ranged between returning classics and unexpected newcomers, just under half of Mario Kart World‘s racers were given unlockable outfits that can be collected throughout the game. Yet the imbalance continues even among these fashion-forward characters, with some racers receiving up to eight or nine outfits while others are left with only one or two.

Though the simplest answer could be that Mario Kart World‘s outfits focused on Nintendo’s most recognizable and popular characters, such as Mario and Yoshi, there could be additional context that suggests otherwise. For example, despite Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World launching within a month of one another, it seems like an oversight that characters from both games, specifically Donkey Kong and Pauline, have received only one outfit each. This has led to players like Gardnerhartung on TikTok to share their theories that Mario Kart World could potentially add more outfits to coincide with new Nintendo games.

Updates to Mario Kart World’s Outfits Could Cross-Promote New Games

Since Mario Kart World has scaled back its racers to just those from the Super Mario franchise, Donkey Kong Bananza is the only evidence so far for this theory, even though something like the return of MK 8 Deluxe‘s Inklings could have coincided with Splatoon Raiders‘ announcement. However, if Donkey Kong and Pauline receive new outfits to promote the new game, then other Mario Kart World characters could receive the same treatment alongside future Switch 2 releases. Between characters with only a few outfits or none whatsoever, Nintendo’s plans for Super Mario could be hidden within Mario Kart World‘s prospective DLC.

For instance, Mario Kart World racers with ties to specific Super Mario games may intentionally have fewer outfits in preparation for potential sequels, such as the demand among players for Luigi’s Mansion 4 or Super Mario Galaxy 3. Moreover, additional outfits could also coincide with Nintendo projects currently in development, like a rumored 3D Super Mario game inspired by the franchise’s first movie or its sequel. While the list below provides several examples of characters who could receive outfits to promote new games, Mario Kart World‘s post-launch updates could prove vital to both its longevity and Nintendo’s long-term strategy for the Switch 2.