Summary
- Nintendo has slightly reduced the file size for Mario Kart World ahead of the Switch 2 launch, from 23.4GB to 21.9GB.
- The change constitutes a 6.41% decrease.
- The Switch 2 will launch with 256 GB of internal storage, allowing up to 2 TB of expandable memory via microSD Express cards.
Mario Kart World will have a smaller install size than initially announced, coming in at under 22 GB, according to a recent update on several of Nintendo’s eShop listings. The unexpected revision, made without any fanfare, arrives days ahead of Mario Kart World's much-anticipated launch.
The 2025 installment in the Mario Kart franchise is slated for release on June 5, exclusively on the Switch 2, which arrives on the same day. Based on both brand value and lifetime series sales, Mario Kart World is positioned as the flagship title of the Switch 2 launch lineup.
Mario Kart World FAQ (All Game Modes, Items, Racers & More)
This Mario Kart World FAQ has the answers to every burning question you have leading up to the game's release.
In the run-up to the open-world racer's release, Nintendo revised its publicly listed file size. As initially spotted by Nintendo Life, both the U.S. And Japanese eShop listings for the Switch 2 exclusive state that it requires 21.9 GB of storage space as of May 31. Previously, Mario Kart World was listed as weighing 23.4 GB, with the recent change thus marking a 6.41% decrease. The Best War Games's subsequent review of international listings suggests several other country-specific eShop storefronts have also been updated to reflect the lower figure, including those for Canada and the Netherlands.
Mario Kart World Installation Size History
- Originally advertised: 23.4 GB
- Revised circa May 31: 21.9 GB
The circumstances behind the reduced file size remain unclear and are unlikely to be addressed, as Nintendo typically does not provide updates on technical processes such as game compression, even when the impact is notable. While Mario Kart World will launch with a smaller-than-expected file size, that does not rule out the possibility of the game growing over time, whether through minor updates or major content drops. The latter will always be a possibility, as shown by recent history, in which Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received its first DLC pack half a decade following its 2017 release.
The Switch 2 will launch with 256 GB of internal flash storage, an eightfold increase over its predecessor. This capacity will be further expandable by up to 2 TB via microSD Express cards, not to be confused with the old microSD cards used by the original Switch. While the form factor is identical, Nintendo's first hybrid console was designed for an older external storage technology standard, based on the UHS-I specification. Compared to that tech, microSD Express cards offer up to ten times faster read/write speeds.
The launch lineup of Switch 2-certified microSD Express cards tops out at 256 GB. Higher-capacity models are expected to hit the market in the months and years following the console's release. The Switch 2 will require a day-one update to enable microSD Express support. Installing the patch will also be a prerequisite for playing games.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- App Store
- Nintendo eShop
- Wi-Fi
- Yes