Nintendo and sport writer DeNA will discontinue creating new content material for the cellular sport Mario Kart Tour beginning October 4th, Video Games Chronicle reports. The transfer signifies Nintendo could also be pivoting its focus away from cellular video games.
The businesses will launch new Mario Kart Tour content material as part of its Anniversary Tour beginning September twentieth. Following the Battle Tour’s launch on October 4th, nonetheless, the corporate will solely launch {old} content material.
“No new programs, drivers, karts, or gliders can be added following the Battle Tour beginning 04/10/2023,” Nintendo wrote in a message to gamers, although the corporate didn’t clarify why. “We hope you proceed to get pleasure from enjoying Mario Kart Tour.”
Mario Kart Tour not too long ago grew to become Nintendo’s second largest earner on cellular after Fire Emblem Heroes. It earned round $243 million after being downloaded 230 million instances, whereas the free-to-play model was essentially the most downloaded iPhone sport when it was released in 2019.
But cellular video games have made up a comparatively small proportion of Nintendo’s earnings in comparison with rival publishers like Activision and Take-Two. That may clarify why Nintendo has ended help for 5 of eight main cellular video games because the firm began producing content material for cellular in 2016 — Mario Kart Tour included.
And whereas Mario Kart Tour has achieved some success, it, too, has taken successful. The sport’s estimated month-to-month earnings dropped by $1 million final October after Nintendo and DeNA removed the game’s controversial gacha system.
“By increasing to PC and cellular, and it should be stated… additionally to stay companies, we’ve got the chance to maneuver from a scenario of being current in a really slim section of the general gaming software program market, to being current just about all over the place,” stated Sony Interactive Leisure president Jim Ryan last year, reports Video Games Chronicle.