The rivalry between kart-racing titles has taken an unexpected turn. Following Nintendo’s announcement that Mario Kart Tour will cease operations this fall, the social media team behind Garfield Kart: Furious Racing and Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift took to X to publicly criticize the move.
A Public Jab at Nintendo
In a direct swipe at the industry giant, the official Garfield Kart account declared its own titles superior, explicitly noting that their games “will not randomly kill your game license.” The jab comes in response to Nintendo’s confirmation that Mario Kart Tour will become unplayable once servers go offline on September 29, 2026.
While Garfield Kart maintains a significantly smaller audience compared to the juggernaut that is Mario Kart, the two franchises share a surprising link through the film industry. Actor Chris Pratt has provided the voice for Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel, while also portraying Garfield in the most recent animated feature. Despite this shared casting, the two series remain separate entities, with no official crossover plans beyond potential appearances in future Smash Bros. titles.
The End of a Mobile Era
The shutdown of Mario Kart Tour marks the end of a seven-year run for Nintendo’s mobile-first kart racer. It follows a broader trend for the publisher, which has shuttered most of its mobile efforts from that era. However, select titles including Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Pikmin Bloom remain operational.
Updates Continue for Mario Kart World
While the mobile experience is coming to an end, Nintendo’s console efforts remain a priority. Mario Kart World is currently the best-selling game on the Switch 2, and the title recently received a surprise update. The latest patch introduced two new Knockout Tour routes, with developers confirming that at least six additional routes are planned for future updates.