This new Mario Kart Tour update brings Miis to the game, along with a range of costumes that give each racer a different ability. Before this announcement, fans were all but sure that Nintendo had started to give up on its iconic avatars, but it seems as though the age of Miis may not be over just yet.
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Nintendo Hasn’t Forgotten About Miis Just Yet
It’s been quite a while since Miis were properly included in a Nintendo game. While players can import their Miis into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, amongst some other titles, Miis aren’t a core focus of the game, and are often ignored by many players.
The last game Nintendo released in which Miis were a primary focus was Miitopia, which released in May 2021 for the Nintendo Switch. However, this game was a port from the Nintendo 3DS, and not a fully fledged new title, suggesting to many that Miis were being cemented as a thing of the past.
With the recent announcement of Nintendo Switch Sports during Nintendo’s February Direct, this notion was only cemented further for some fans. The trailer showcased the main modes of the game, also showing a new type of cutesy Nintendo avatar called a “Sportsmate.” While these avatars share some basic similarities with Miis, the different art style really sets the two apart, confirming for many that Nintendo was starting to leave Miis behind.
But, with the announcement that Miis are heading to Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo might not be ready to give up its infamous series of create-your-own characters just yet. This update may not suggest that Miis are making a full comeback, but it might imply that Nintendo is willing to keep the little guys around for a bit longer.
What’s Included in the Mario Kart Tour Mii Update
Though it didn’t review very well upon its initial release, Mario Kart Tour quickly became one of Nintendo’s most successful mobile games, reaching 200 million downloads by April 2021, earning the company $200 million in revenue, and being beaten out only by Fire Emblem Heroes. For those that don’t own a Switch, Mario Kart Tour is a decent way of getting a Mario Kart fix on the go, even despite its somewhat shallow mechanics.
Over the years, Mario Kart Tour has received a plethora of updates, adding a slew of new tracks, carts, and racers. This latest update will see a whopping 10 new racers join the game, each one appearing as a Mii in a different themed costume. The first wave, which arrives on March 8, adds costumes for Mario, Peach, Luigi, Rosalina, and a few other Nintendo mainstays, along with the Bronze, Silver, and Gold racing suit costumes.
Each of the update’s costumes also gives the racer a themed item, such as Donkey Kong’s outfit giving the player a Giant Banana, and Toad’s giving the player a Triple Mushroom item. More costumes are heading to the game on March 22, giving Mii fans at least one more thing to look forward to.
Mario Kart Tour is available on mobile.
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