End of the Road: Nintendo Officially Shuts Down 'Mario Kart Tour' After Seven-Year Run
TOKYO — Nintendo has officially shut down its mobile racing game, Mario Kart Tour, concluding seven years of service for the free-to-play title. The game’s servers went offline on September 29, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time, making the app completely unplayable on both iOS and Android devices. Unlike Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, which was released with a standalone offline version after its closure, Nintendo has confirmed that no offline edition of Mario Kart Tour will be available.
A Legacy on Mobile
Launched in September 2019, Mario Kart Tour marked Nintendo's significant effort to adapt one of its most beloved console franchises for touchscreens. Throughout its lifespan, the game introduced a diverse lineup of drivers, costumes, and city-themed courses inspired by real-world locations such as Paris, Tokyo, and New York.
Key Fact
Details
Launch Date
September 25, 2019
Shutdown Date
September 29, 2026 (11:00 PM PT)
Platforms
iOS, Android
Offline Version?
No
Legacy Impact
City tracks preserved via Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC
Early monetization strategies for the game, including loot-box-style gacha mechanics, faced criticism from players. In response, Nintendo revamped the system, shifting to a direct-purchase spotlight shop. This change ultimately helped build a dedicated player base and allowed the game to serve as a testing ground for course designs that were later incorporated into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe through the Booster Course Pass DLC.
What Happens Now?
With the servers now offline, players who open the app will see an end-of-service message. In-game purchases, including Rubies and Gold Pass subscriptions, were disabled earlier in the summer leading up to the final shutdown.
Nintendo released an official statement thanking the community: We sincerely thank the many players who have loved and supported the game since service began so long ago.
Although fans of mobile Mario games can no longer race on their phones, much of Mario Kart Tour's original course design continues to exist across modern Nintendo hardware.
