Nintendo's Racing Problem

Summary

In this video, Kevra discusses his surprise at Nintendo's upcoming releases, particularly the announcement of a new Kirby Air Ride game alongside Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2. He reflects on how Nintendo has avoided releasing multiple racing games at once, focusing instead on Mario Kart's dominance. Kevra expresses concerns about the timing of Kirby Air Ride's release, fearing it will not perform well in the shadow of Mario Kart. He hopes for a delay to give the game a better chance and to encourage more diverse racing games from Nintendo.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kevra starts the video by humorously introducing himself, establishing the playful tone of the discussion.
• 😀 Kevra compares himself to a 'better version' of another character, humorously poking fun at physical differences.
• 😀 The video focuses on the announcement of a sequel to *Kirby Air Ride* and the upcoming *Mario Kart World*, both launching for the Nintendo Switch 2.
• 😀 Kevra expresses surprise that *Kirby Air Ride* is getting a sequel, as he expected any new Nintendo racing game to come after the launch of *Mario Kart World*.
• 😀 In the past, Nintendo reportedly avoided releasing similar racing games, believing it could divide their audience, and *Mario Kart* was their flagship racing game.
• 😀 Kevra highlights Nintendo's decision not to release a new *Mario Kart* game on the Switch, opting instead to focus on *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* DLC.
• 😀 Kevra had anticipated new racing games like *Diddy Kong Racing 2*, *F-Zero*, or even a new *Kirby Air Ride*, but Nintendo didn't release these despite the absence of a new *Mario Kart* game.
• 😀 There was a missed opportunity to release a new Nintendo racing game like *Diddy Kong Racing 2* or a remaster of an older title during the Switch's lifecycle.
• 😀 *Kirby Air Ride*'s sequel being released in 2025 alongside *Mario Kart World* might cause confusion, as both games share a similar cartoony art style, making the competition tough for *Kirby Air Ride*.
• 😀 Kevra worries that releasing *Kirby Air Ride* so soon after *Mario Kart World* could lead to disappointing sales, discouraging Nintendo from exploring other racing franchises in the future.
• 😀 Kevra suggests that delaying *Kirby Air Ride* could have been the better strategy, especially as it could have provided an alternative to *Mario Kart* when the audience grew tired of it, but this is unlikely to happen.

Q & A

Why is Kevra shocked about the announcement of Kirby Air Ride's sequel?

Kevra is surprised because he expected a new Mario Kart game to be the focus, not a sequel to Kirby Air Ride. He thought if Nintendo were to release another racing game with a flagship character like Kirby, it would have been on the original Nintendo Switch.

What is Kevra's opinion on Nintendo's strategy regarding racing games?

Kevra believes that Nintendo's strategy of focusing on Mario Kart for the Nintendo Switch made sense initially, but he thinks there was an opportunity to release a new racing game, like Diddy Kong Racing 2 or F-Zero, during that time. He also feels Nintendo missed the chance to cater to the audience craving new racing experiences.

What did Nintendo previously say about releasing another racing game besides Mario Kart?

Nintendo previously stated that they didn't want to release another racing game similar to Mario Kart, as it might divide the audience or cannibalize Mario Kart's sales. They wanted to avoid having two racing franchises that felt too similar to each other.

Why does Kevra think Kirby Air Ride’s sequel is being released at a problematic time?

Kevra is concerned that releasing Kirby Air Ride's sequel so soon after Mario Kart World, a more popular and anticipated title, will make it hard for the game to succeed. He believes that Mario Kart World will dominate sales and attention, leaving little room for Kirby Air Ride.

What is Kevra’s concern about Kirby Air Ride's sales performance?

Kevra worries that Kirby Air Ride's sales will be negatively impacted because it is releasing in close proximity to Mario Kart World, a game with much greater popularity. He also fears that the similar cartoony art styles of both games will lead consumers to prefer Mario Kart World.

What alternate release strategy does Kevra suggest for Kirby Air Ride?

Kevra suggests that releasing Kirby Air Ride a few years after Mario Kart World, when players may be tired of the latter, would have been a better strategy. This timing could have helped Kirby Air Ride attract attention from players looking for a fresh racing experience after Mario Kart.

How does Kevra view Nintendo's approach to racing games in general?

Kevra enjoys Mario Kart but also desires more variety in Nintendo's racing games. He would like to see sequels to other racing franchises, such as Diddy Kong Racing and F-Zero, rather than just relying on Mario Kart as the sole racing game for each generation.

Why does Kevra think that Kirby Air Ride could have performed better on the Nintendo Switch?

Kevra believes that releasing Kirby Air Ride during a time when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was still the only main racing game on the Switch could have allowed the game to succeed. Players who wanted a fresh racing experience would have been eager for something new, especially after the lack of new racing titles during that period.

What is Kevra's opinion about F-Zero and its absence on the Nintendo Switch?

Kevra is disappointed that F-Zero hasn't received a new release on the Nintendo Switch, especially given that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was a port from the Wii U. He thinks the Switch era would have been a good time to reintroduce F-Zero or another racing franchise, but Nintendo chose not to.

What are Kevra’s concerns about the future of Nintendo's racing franchises if Kirby Air Ride doesn't perform well?

Kevra is worried that if Kirby Air Ride underperforms, it will discourage Nintendo from making future racing games, especially those outside of the Mario Kart franchise. He fears that this could lead to a lack of diversity in Nintendo's racing lineup and fewer sequels to beloved games like Diddy Kong Racing or F-Zero.