Mario Kart Tour hit with an 18+ age rating

Mario Kart Tours age rating has been raised to 18+ in Brazil, with no explanation from Nintendo at this time. Released on iOS and Android devices in 2019, Mario Kart Tour marked the first time the racing series had been offered on anything other than a Nintendo system. The free-to-play mobile game features familiar elements from the series, while adding new elements that would impact games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart World.

Mario Kart Tour introduced new tracks based on real-life locations, including Singapore, Amsterdam and Vancouver. Additionally, the mobile game features familiar tracks that span the story Mario Kart series. For a long time, the newer tracks remained exclusive to Mario Kart Tourbut they were added later Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Switch game's Booster Course Pass DLC. This isn't the only impact the mobile game has had on the main series; Mario Kart Tour introduced costume variants for several racers, which is something that would later appear in Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2.

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Mario Kart Tour's age rating was raised in Brazil

Mario Kart Tours new age rating in Brazil recommends that the game is not downloaded by anyone under the age of 18. While a specific reason for the change has not been given yet, many fans are speculating that it may have something to do with the presence of gacha mechanics. In recent years, several countries have cracked down on video game gacha mechanics or anything resembling gambling, especially in games marketed toward younger players. It is worth noting that Mario Kart Tour made changes to its gacha mechanics in 2022, removing the controversial pipe system and replacing it with the Spotlight Shop. As a result of that change, players gained much more control over what items they received in-game when they spent money. It's possible the changes don't go far enough for Brazil's standards, but there's no way to know for sure.

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It's possible Nintendo could appeal the change Mario Kart Tours age rating, although it may not bother. The company announced an end to new content in the game in 2023, however Mario Kart Tour had an in-game event last year to celebrate the launch of Mario Kart World. Appealing the rating change could be more trouble than it's worth for a game that no longer sees new tracks or characters added regularly.

If Nintendo eventually plans to remove Mario Kart Tour from mobile storefronts, this could be a perfect excuse to do it in Brazil. Mobile games generally have limited lifespans, and Mario Kart Tour has been available for almost seven years at this point. Whatever happens, it's clear that consumer-focused legislation has had a significant impact on the video game industry lately, as countries like Brazil try to protect players from predatory practices.

Mario Kart Tour was released as part of a larger mobile strategy by Nintendo, which saw games like Pikmin Bloom, Super Mario Runand Fire Emblem Heroes released on iOS and Android devices. Nintendo seems to be moving away from these mobile efforts in recent years, though games like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete remain playable, even when new content has run out. On the one hand, Nintendo's mobile games offer players a chance to experience these franchises without having to own a video game system, but it makes sense that the company would want to steer more players towards buying Mario Kart game on Switch or Switch 2 instead.

Source: TheGamer