The recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event that took place in early April 2025 revealed a plethora about the upcoming console. We have details on the release date, price, technical specifications, and a lineup of games coming with the console’s launch. However, one of the highlights of the event was the reveal of Mario Kart World, the newest entry in the storied franchise. Mario Kart World was announced alongside the Switch 2, with Nintendo confirming the new game is launching on the same date as the console.
Of course, fans who own the original Nintendo Switch are curious if they have to go out and buy the Switch 2 to play Mario Kart World or if they can hang onto their current console for the time being. PlayStation and Xbox usually develop new games for multiple consoles, but Nintendo is notoriously stingy when it comes to this area.
So, can you play Mario Kart World on the original Switch, or will it cost you the price of a Switch 2?
Is Mario Kart World Coming To The Original Switch?

If you know anything about Nintendo, you likely have a good idea of the answer to this question.
Unfortunately, Mario Kart World is not a title that’s coming to both the original Switch and the Switch 2. Mario Kart World is the premier launch title for the Switch 2, and it’s not being developed for the original Switch in any capacity. While some new Switch 2 games will be made for the first Switch, that’s not the case here.
Of course, this is disappointing for fans who own the original Switch or even the Switch OLED. They can’t play the newest Mario Kart without first buying an entirely new console while their old one becomes mostly obsolete in the modern sense.
The most logical reason for this decision by Nintendo is that the Switch 2’s technology is simply too advanced for most new games to run well on the original Switch. The Switch 2 can handle 4K resolutions, has hundreds of more GB in storage, and features more modern hardware. Mario Kart World will also likely make use of the new Switch 2 features, such as the “Chat” button or the mouse-like functionality of the Joy-Cons.
With all of this in mind, it’s also possible that Nintendo simply wants to entice fans to buy the new console instead of sticking with the old one. Nintendo always has a few launch titles with a new console that aren’t backwards compatible with the old generation of consoles, and Mario Kart World, unfortunately, falls into that category.
How Much Does Mario Kart World And A Switch 2 Cost?

Now that you know you have to play Mario Kart World on the Switch 2, what is it going to cost you to actually play the game when it launches?
Well, there are a couple of different ways you can go about it. First, you can simply buy Mario Kart World after you purchase a Switch 2. Now, prepare yourself, as Switch 2 games cost nearly 1.5x what original Switch games cost.
A digital copy of Mario Kart World costs $80, while a physical copy of the game costs $90. To go along with that, the Switch 2 costs $450 for the base edition in the United States. This means, if you want to buy the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World when they launch, you’ll spend roughly $530-540 plus any additional fees, such as taxes or shipping.
If you’re willing to wait, however, you can purchase the Mario Kart World Switch 2 Bundle, which comes with both the console and the game. This costs $500, meaning you save around $30-40. The Mario Kart Bundle isn’t available to purchase until the fall of 2025, though, so this also means you have to wait to receive your console and game.
Speaking of which, the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World are both launching on June 5, 2025. We’re not sure when the Mario Kart Bundle will be released. However, the bundles are only available as supplies last, so they could sell out very quickly, and then you’re forced to buy the console and game separately.
So, to sum up, the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World will cost you at least $500 in one way or another (if you purchase both items new and in-box). You can save some money if you wait for the console bundle, but the bundle is being released well after the initial Switch 2 release on June 5, 2025. All of these details are in conjunction with the fact that Mario Kart World is only playable on the Switch 2, and not the original Switch.
That’s all we have on Mario Kart World and its compatibility with the original Switch. Be ready to fork over some serious cash if you want to play the game at launch or even in the near and distant future.
Published: Apr 3, 2025 4:28 PM UTC