Mario Kart World Launches, Lacks 200cc Mode

Mario Kart 8's enhanced 200cc difficulty mode is not available in the Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World at release, but Nintendo has hinted it could return through a future update.

Nintendo first introduced the 200cc mode to the Mario Kart series via a post-launch patch for Mario Kart 8. Could the company follow the same strategy for the new installment? All signs point to yes.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki acknowledged the popularity of the 200cc addition but stopped short of confirming its return at this stage.

"Many players truly enjoy challenging modes like this," Yabuki teased. "But does that mean we're planning to add engine sizes beyond 150cc in Mario Kart World? I can't reveal anything just yet."

It's no surprise that 200cc is missing from Mario Kart World at launch. Rolling out the mode later gives players time to master the courses at the standard 150cc (or lower, if preferred) before taking on the intense speed of 200cc.

This strategy makes even more sense with Mario Kart World's multiplayer focus—encouraging groups to team up, explore together, communicate via GameChat, and keep cameras on.

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Most likely, whenever Mario Kart World does introduce 200cc, all players in a group will need to use the same engine class to explore the seamless map together. That makes it all the more important to let everyone get comfortable with 150cc before increasing the speed.

Mario Kart World launches this week alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring an open, explorable map. However, as IGN noted, don’t expect it to play like Forza Horizon. In other Mario Kart news, IGN asked Nintendo whether the beloved Cow character actually eats beef.