Highlights
- Mario Kart Tour will shut down on Sep 29, 2026, with no offline version planned after service ends.
- Nintendo Switch Online adds Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 and three more retro Game Boy and GBA classics.
- Nintendo confirms original Switch sales will continue outside Europe as Switch 2 hardware is updated for new EU battery regulations.
Nintendo has announced a series of updates across its gaming business. The company is preparing to shut down Mario Kart Tour, expanding the Nintendo Switch Online retro library, and confirming that the original Nintendo Switch will continue to be sold outside Europe.
Together, the announcements show Nintendo's strategy of winding down older services while supporting its console ecosystem as the Switch 2 rollout continues.
Nintendo confirmed that Mario Kart Tour will reach the end of service at 10:59 pm PT on Sep 29, 2026, according to its official support website. Gold Pass auto-renewals have already been disabled. Players can also no longer purchase Rubies, the game's premium currency.
The changes mark the beginning of the game's final phase after nearly eight years of service. Nintendo thanked players for supporting Mario Kart Tour over the years, adding, "Thank you for playing Mario Kart Tour."
Mario Kart Tour Enters its Final Months With Free Gold Pass Access
Players who had an active Gold Pass subscription before auto-renewals were disabled will continue receiving membership benefits, excluding continuous subscription rewards, until the game shuts down. Nintendo also confirmed that all players, including non-subscribers, will receive Gold Pass benefits from Aug 4, 2026, until the service ends.
Nintendo further clarified that an “offline version is not scheduled for release." That differs from Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, which received a premium offline version after its online service ended.
Mario Kart Tour stopped receiving regular content updates in 2023 after more than four years of post-launch support. However, Nintendo later released a surprise Sunshine Tour to celebrate the launch of Mario Kart World. The Switch 2 title continues to receive updates and recently added two Knockout Tour races through a free update.
Switch Online Expands as Switch Sales Continue
Nintendo also expanded the Nintendo Switch Online library. The Sword of Hope II, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, and Fortified Zone are now available through the Game Boy library. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members also gained Dr. Mario & Puzzle League for Game Boy Advance. Players in Japan additionally received Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon and Tomato Adventure. Nintendo of Europe highlighted the additions through its official X account.
Nintendo Switch Online includes online multiplayer, GameChat, cloud saves, and access to Nintendo Classics. Membership costs $3.99 USD for one month, $7.99 for three months, or $19.99 per year. The Expansion Pack, which adds Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis titles, costs $49.99 annually.
Nintendo also clarified reports that the original Switch would soon be discontinued.
The company stated that the decision applies only to Europe. The change is tied to new European battery regulations taking effect in 2027. To comply, revised versions of the Nintendo Switch 2, Pro Controller, Joy-Con 2 controllers, and select accessories will roll out from summer 2026.
The updated products will feature user-replaceable batteries and minor battery or weight changes. Nintendo confirmed that there will be no difference in functionality.
As of March 31, 2026, the original console had sold 155.92M units worldwide. That leaves it less than 5M units behind the PlayStation 2's all-time sales record of 160M units. The company indicated that it plans to continue selling Nintendo Switch outside Nintendo of Europe's territories.
