July 6, 2022, 3:51 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

Nintendo is one of the largest game developers in the world. Additionally, the Japanese company has been very successful with its consoles. Until now, it was only possible to play Nintendo titles on their proprietary gaming devices, such as the Nintendo Switch. This might change in the future–and “Mario Kart” is taking the first step.

Hints of a PC Version of “Mario Kart” Have Emerged

Keeping games within their own ecosystem–that has been Nintendo’s motto so far. And this strategy has worked well for the company. Those who want to play major titles like “Zelda: Breath of the Wild” must turn to the Nintendo Switch. Only on smartphones have popular Nintendo characters appeared in games in recent years. “Pokémon Go” is probably the most prominent name here. Since 2019, “Mario Kart Tour” has also been available as a mobile game from the highly popular series. And within this game, hints have been found suggesting that a PC version of “Mario Kart” might be planned.

Some data miners discovered the option “mouse support” in the code after the latest update of the mobile game. A native emulation also seems to be a possibility.

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Also interesting: Nintendo Ends Support for Mario Kart Game

A Slimmed-Down Version Seems Likely

This does not mean that we can expect a full-fledged “Mario Kart” version for the PC. It is most likely a spin-off of the mobile game. Nintendo has not yet commented on this. Nevertheless, it would be a remarkable step. Until now, it has only been possible to play Nintendo games on the PC using an emulator.

The most likely reason for this move is Google’s widely announced gaming initiative. The company is currently working on a new PlayStore specifically for the PC. The offering is expected to launch later this year and include various Android games. This could be serious competition for Nintendo games and products, which are geared toward flexibility. If the door to Mario and friends on the PC were opened, many more exciting projects would be conceivable.