'Mario Kart Tour' to stop adding new content after Oct. 4

Nintendo

Mario Kart Tour, the mobile spin-off of Nintendo’s popular racing series, is ending its original content updates after October 4. Nintendo announced that the game will only have three more "tours" (multiplayer events) before rehashing previous ones. This means there won't be new courses, drivers, karts, gliders, or features will be after that date.

The game will still be playable, but without new content, it may lose many players over time. Nintendo did not explain why they decided to stop developing new content for the game, which has been a financial success for them. The game has earned nearly US$300 million as of last year, making it Nintendo’s second-most profitable mobile title after Fire Emblem Heroes.

However, the game has also faced some controversy, especially for its “Spotlight Pipes” mechanic, which offered loot boxes with unknown odds. Nintendo removed this feature last September after a backlash from players. The company also faces a lawsuit from a parent whose child spent US$170 on it.

Nintendo is still working on other mobile games, such as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Super Mario Run, and Fire Emblem Heroes. The company also partnered with DeNA to create Nintendo Systems, a new division for developing smartphone games and experiences.

The end of Mario Kart Tour’s original content may also hint at the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s sixth and final DLC wave for the Nintendo Switch since the two games have often shared new courses.

Mario Kart Tour is also another example of Nintendo’s diminishing focus on mobile games, which have only made up a small percentage of its earnings compared to other big publishers. Of the eight major mobile games Nintendo has launched so far, it has now ended support for five, including Mario Kart Tour.

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