5 Details Fans Noticed In The New Mario Kart Trailer
Right now we only know about one game for the newly announced Nintendo Switch 2: the next Mario Kart. Nintendo didn’t reveal a title, but fans are already calling the kart racer Mario Kart 9 and scanning every frame of footage we got from the announcement trailer. We’ve gathered a few of those observations fans have made about elements that stick out in the brief glimpse we’ve gotten of the new game. Here are some of the details you might’ve missed in the new Mario Kart trailer.
Some of the characters have been redesigned
Not only does Donkey Kong have his new movie design in Mario Kart 9(???), Mario's slightly more cartoon-y Wonder proportions also seem to be the default now. pic.twitter.com/McJGad4KnM
— Rimea (@The_Rimea) January 16, 2025
We didn’t get a great look at all the characters, as much of the trailer focuses on the fireball-slinging plumber himself, but what we can see makes it look like some of Mario’s friends have gotten a makeover. Donkey Kong is the most immediate example, as he now looks closer to his Super Mario Bros. Movie incarnation than to his Mario Kart 8 model. Meanwhile, everyone seems a little bit more squished, like they appear in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Races may accommodate 24 players
Holy shit, official 24 player Mario Kart on Switch 2! pic.twitter.com/seqi82Ahbm
— Citadel | Mankalor (@Mankalor) January 16, 2025
The sense of scale of this image sure gives the illusion of a more open world Mario Kart game.
Also, is that a pit stop? pic.twitter.com/BOWgkA8Yj1— Kābī (@KirPinkFury) January 16, 2025
There’s a shot in the trailer of what looks like 24 total starting points on a race track. This implies the next Mario Kart may include races of up to 24 players at a time. This is double the 12-player races of Mario Kart 8, and probably accounts for some of the larger tracks players have noticed. However, some also speculate the game might have some kind of open-world exploration element similar to games like Crash Team Racing.
Rosalina is riding a snowmobile
Rosalina is driving a snow mobile! 👀🏔️⛷️ pic.twitter.com/WN8tR266yM
— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) January 16, 2025
Rosalina is returning as a playable character this time around, and her kart looks a little bit different than everyone else’s. Fans pointed out her ride looks like a snowmobile rather than the wheel-sporting vehicles of most other characters. This isn’t a first for the series, but many fans probably haven’t played the mobile game Mario Kart Tour where they were introduced.
Yoshi’s burger stand is shaped like the dinosaur himself
Oh my god I just realized the Yoshi burger stand is shaped like his head 🥹 pic.twitter.com/oBhvIY6VVA
— Jan Ochoa (@_janjerome) January 16, 2025
At one point in the trailer you can see a burger stand that is seemingly run by Yoshi? Or is Yoshi the meat? I’m suddenly left with more questions than answers about this establishment. But fans realized the burger joint is actually shaped like Yoshi. Its windows are his eyes and the top bun covering the entrance is his snout. It’s cute!
The in-universe logos fill out the world
There is a Morton Construction sign though, so maybe they're saving the reveals of more obscure characters for a later trailer. https://t.co/AnyvhOH7wX pic.twitter.com/iGsQEFtbJB
— Rimea (@The_Rimea) January 16, 2025
It's the tiniest thing, but I'm really happy Mario Kart 9(?) is continuing some of 8's in-universe brands like Mario Motors, 1-Up Fuel and Mario Kart TV, alongside new ones like Luigi Tires.
This kind of subtle continuity between Mario games is pretty rare. pic.twitter.com/U2CPopqBvj— Rimea (@The_Rimea) January 16, 2025
Mario Kart TV is still alive and kicking after 11 years. Looks like they've updated their logo and truck design pic.twitter.com/dJVsWgY10o
— Joy-Con Drift 2 (@DriftCons) January 16, 2025
Power-ups are still the main canonical fuel source around here. It seems we now got Fire Flowers being used for gas. pic.twitter.com/RVLWSa621I
— Joy-Con Drift 2 (@DriftCons) January 16, 2025
Yoshi has a burger stand of some kind, but in keeping with a long series tradition, there’s also branding seen in the trailer that references other characters and entities. There’s a brief shot where you can see the logo for Morton’s Construction, a reference to one of the Koopalings, and you can see logos for sponsors on the tracks like Luigi Tires, Mario Motors, Mario Kart TV, and 1-Up Fuel.
Those are just a few of the details folks are pointing out, and there will no doubt be more discoveries as Mario sickos comb through the trailer. Beyond that, we’ll more than likely hear more about the next Mario Kart in April when Nintendo holds its Switch 2 Direct on April 2.