7 years on, Mario Kart Tour is shutting down for good

Australian players have only a few months left to access Mario Kart Tour before Nintendo permanently switches off the mobile racer. The iPhone and Android game will end service on September 29 at 11pm Pacific time, with the shutdown falling on September 30 in other regions. Nintendo has also confirmed that no offline version is scheduled, meaning the game will become unplayable once its servers close.

Setting the Scene

Mario Kart Tour launched in September 2019 as part of Nintendo's push into smartphone gaming. The free-to-play title brought familiar racers, karts and courses to mobile devices, while introducing rotating tours and a large collection of track variants.

The game initially used gacha-style mechanics, allowing players to spend currency for a chance to unlock characters and vehicles. Nintendo removed that system in 2022 and replaced it with a more direct item shop. Regular development then ended in 2023, when the company stopped adding new courses, drivers, karts and gliders after the Anniversary Tour.

Here's What Happened

Nintendo announced that Mario Kart Tour's service will end on September 29, 2026, at 11pm Pacific time. The company has not provided a reason for the shutdown, according to GamesIndustry.biz's shutdown report.

Preparations have already begun. Players can no longer purchase Rubies, the game's premium currency, while automatic renewals and new subscriptions for the Gold Pass have been disabled. Existing subscribers will retain most benefits until the final phase, excluding continuous-subscription rewards.

From August 4 or August 5, depending on the regional time conversion, Gold Pass benefits will become free for all remaining players until the shutdown. Those perks include additional rewards, challenges and access to the faster 200cc racing mode.

The most consequential detail is Nintendo's statement that an offline version is not scheduled. Unlike a game that can remain installed and played locally, Mario Kart Tour relies on its online infrastructure. Once that infrastructure is withdrawn, players will lose access to the full game.

Reactions & Responses

Nintendo thanked the people who had supported the title since its launch. The company said:

We sincerely thank the many players who have loved and supported the game since service began so long ago.

The lack of an offline edition has become the main point of concern in coverage of the closure. Polygon highlighted the preservation issue, noting that the mobile-only entry will become completely inaccessible despite other Mario Kart games remaining available through current hardware, older cartridges or Nintendo's retro libraries.

The decision also contrasts with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. When that title's online service ended in 2024, Nintendo released a paid offline version that allowed players to continue using their save data.

The Bigger Picture

Mario Kart Tour was not a minor experiment. One source reports more than 200 million downloads by 2021 and more than $290 million in lifetime revenue by 2022. It also says the game generated 100 million downloads in its first 11 days and ranked as Nintendo's second-highest-grossing mobile game behind Fire Emblem Heroes.

Those figures make the closure significant for the wider debate over digital game ownership. Players may spend money and years building collections in an online game, yet continued access still depends on the publisher maintaining its servers. Mario Kart Tour demonstrates how even a commercially successful title can vanish when its operator decides to end support.

The shutdown also affects preservation within the Mario Kart series. Several reports say Tour contains unique tracks, remixes and variants that are not available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Mario Kart World. Nintendo has not announced plans to move all of that content elsewhere.

For Australian players, the practical message is simple: any remaining tours, unlocked content or favourite courses should be played before the service ends. Purchases will not preserve access after the servers close.

The Road Ahead

All players are scheduled to receive Gold Pass benefits for free during the final weeks of service. Mario Kart Tour will then become unavailable after the September shutdown, unless Nintendo changes its current position and announces another way to access it.

Nintendo has not confirmed an offline edition, a content transfer system or a replacement mobile Mario Kart game.