Final lap for 'Mario Kart Tour' badly closes another Nintendo mobile gaming chapter

Nintendo will shut down "Mario Kart Tour" later in 2026, highlighting how Nintendo continues to not deliver what consumers want on hardware platforms that they do not manufacture.


The game will remain playable until 11 p.m. Pacific on September 29, when Nintendo will permanently end online service. Nintendo announced the shutdown Tuesday and directed players to updated support policies covering ruby purchases and Gold Pass subscriptions that took effect July 7.

Nintendo thanked players for supporting Mario Kart Tour since its launch but didn't explain why it decided to end service. Support pages published alongside the announcement explain how rubies and Gold Pass subscriptions will be handled before the shutdown.

Mario Kart Tour launched on iPhone and Android in September 2019 as Nintendo's highest-profile effort to bring one of its biggest console franchises to smartphones. Nintendo rebuilt Mario Kart around touchscreen controls, seasonal tours, ruby-based item draws and an optional Gold Pass subscription instead of delivering the console experience players expected.


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