Nintendo to permanently shutdown Mario Kart game with less than 1 month to play

One of the most divisive instalments of the fabled Mario Kart series is being sunset by Nintendo, as the Japanese giant has confirmed that servers will be shut off in one month.

When it comes to Mario Kart, Nintendo rarely misses. From the original Super Mario Kart on SNES in 1992 to Mario Kart Wii, and the most recent Mario Kart World, we've had over three decades of banana skin skidmarks painted across Rainbow Road, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

In fact, there's an argument to be made that Mario Kart, in its many forms, is the best party game series of all time, perfect for a split-screen family games night or an online circuit against friends.

However, those standing faithful to Mario Kart Tour will only have one month to find themselves a new garage to park their go-kart in, as Nintendo will be permanently shutting it down on September 30.

Nintendo axes support for Mario Kart Tour - but there's still good news for fans

Mario Kart Tour (2019) is renowned as the series' most divisive game, as the mobile title was flush with aggressive microtransactions that felt out of place in the cozy, fun world we're used to.

Nintendo

But if you could set the monetisation and frequent pop-up ads to one side, it was still Mario Kart, offering fun ways to race against friends online - it was certainly a change of pace for anyone who enjoys games on the go, negating the need to carry around a handheld console.

Still, it remains the series' lowest-rated game, and now Nintendo is cutting its losses.

The publisher has confirmed that the game will be permanently shutting down at 1am CST / 7am BST on Wednesday, September 30.

Unlike some console games which remain offline but playable in a single-player mode, this means that players will never be able to access the game again.

Read Next: Mario Kart World review: Knockout Tour is the best thing this series has ever done

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is being updated with new content, available now

No fear, though, as Nintendo has announced that another Mario Kart game is getting some love, which could prove to be a great option for any Tour fans who need a new place to race.

Support for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been ramped up after nine years, as an eight-player split-screen option has arrived in a surprise free upgrade package.

With hope, Nintendo could shock us all with some more Mario Kart action this month, as the publisher's Direct showcase is expected to air in mid-September, detailing new games and surprise DLCs for existing titles.

There's always a possibility that a new Mario Kart mobile game could be in development, or the popular cast could be burning rubber on other platforms. We'll have to wait and see.