Nintendo has announced that Mario Kart Tour, its mobile installment of the beloved racing franchise, will officially cease operations on septembre 30 at 2:00 a.m. ET. Following this shutdown, players will no longer be able to access or play the game.
In preparation for the closure, the sale of rubies—the in-game currency used for purchasing various content—was discontinued starting July 8. Similarly, new purchases of the Golden Pass, which granted cosmetic enhancements and seasonal perks, have also been halted. However, those who currently hold a premium subscription will retain access to its benefits until the game’s final day.
A Mobile Chapter Comes to an End
Mario Kart Tour made its debut on septembre 25, 2019, arriving as a free-to-play title on both iOS and Android platforms. It represented Nintendo’s broader initiative to expand the reach of its flagship franchises beyond traditional consoles, joining other mobile adaptations such as Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing.
Unlike the earlier mobile title Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, which offered offline play options, Mario Kart Tour’s gameplay was exclusively online. This distinction means that players will have no alternative means to continue racing once the servers are shut down. Nintendo’s decision marks a definitive end to the mobile iteration of Mario Kart, underscoring the challenges of sustaining mobile versions of its iconic series.