Nintendo has announced the permanent shutdown of Mario Kart Tour, the popular mobile racing game, scheduled for September 29, 2026. After that date, the game will no longer be playable and no offline version is planned. This decision marks another chapter in Nintendo's mobile strategy, which has seen several titles discontinued in recent years.
End of in-app purchases and Gold Pass subscriptions
With the announcement, Nintendo immediately stopped selling the in-game currency, rubies, and ended automatic renewals of Gold Pass subscriptions. Players who already had an active subscription can continue to enjoy benefits for free until September 29, while non-subscribers will receive the benefits starting August 4. The Gold Pass includes exclusive gifts, special challenges, 200cc mode, and an increase in daily coin and point limits. Remaining rubies can be spent in the Spotlight Shop, Mii Racing Suit Shop, and Coin Rush until the service ends.
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A meteoric success and gradual decline
Mario Kart Tour launched in September 2019, amassing over 90 million downloads within its first 24 hours, becoming an instant global phenomenon. Like traditional Mario Kart games, players raced on tracks inspired by real cities and Mario realms, using iconic characters such as Luigi, Toad, Waluigi, and Peach. However, after the initial boom, interest gradually waned due to competition from other mobile titles and a lack of substantial updates. To understand the economic dynamics behind this decision, it is useful to analyze SaaS metrics like MRR and churn, which are key to assessing the health of a subscription service.
The fate of Nintendo mobile games
Nintendo has a mixed track record in mobile gaming. After the success of Fire Emblem Heroes, Super Mario Run, and the newer Pictonico, the company has shut down titles such as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Miitomo, Dr. Mario World, and Dragalia Lost. The closure of Mario Kart Tour fits this trend, suggesting a more selective strategy. According to industry sources, Nintendo may focus on games with more sustainable business models, reducing reliance on in-app purchases and subscriptions. For more on the game's history, refer to the Wikipedia page for Mario Kart Tour.
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What players should do before the shutdown
For those still playing, the advice is to spend any remaining rubies and complete Gold Pass challenges. After September 29, the app will no longer launch and game data will be lost. Nintendo is offering no refunds for past purchases. The shutdown serves as a reminder that even beloved mobile titles are not guaranteed to last forever. As the market evolves, even the most popular games can disappear.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/08/mario-kart-tour-shutting-down
