Sometimes in the gaming industry, gamers just know something is in development before it’s ever confirmed. This could be due to a cliffhanger, sales, general popularity, or just a general sense. For example, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order fans have long believed a sequel was in development, with EA essentially confirming it a few months ago. It is now expected to be announced at the Star Wars celebration later this year.
This general sense has long led many to believe that Mario Kart 9 and Grand Theft Auto 6 are in development. Now, these games are two completely different worlds, with the “worst” thing in Mario Kart being the blue Spiny Shells and Grand Theft Auto…well, suffice to say, there are a lot of “bad things” that happen in Grand Theft Auto. Despite their content being opposites, these two franchises share one thing in common: the fate of Mario Kart 9 and Grand Theft Auto 6.
This comparison does carry one big caveat. Grand Theft Auto 6 has been confirmed by Rockstar Games after years of speculation, but that does not mean it’s coming out anytime soon. Mario Kart 9 is not confirmed to be in development, but when looking at fans talk about it, one would be forgiven for thinking it was. The pre-development circulation of these two games is wildly similar.
Rockstar May Have Confirmed GTA 6, But It’s in No Rush to Release It
The past several years have seen Rockstar release Grand Theft Auto 5 in as many ways as it can, including recent PS5 and Xbox Series X enhancements. This comes back to one reason: sales. Despite GTA 5 first releasing nearly 9 years ago, it continues to top sales charts. It is, in fact, the most profitable entertainment product of all time. With sales like that, Rockstar doesn’t really need to release Grand Theft Auto 6.
It's not impossible, but it’s highly unlikely, that Grand Theft Auto 6 can replicate the first game’s success. No doubt that’s the goal, but that is some incredibly high standards. Sales-wise, nothing else in the industry really compares. Many will flock to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, but the most likely scenario is that this pulls players away from GTA 5. GTA Online, perhaps the most profitable element of the franchise, should be safe since it’s a standalone release, but at the same time, Rockstar probably doesn’t want to undercut GTA 5 with GTA 6.
One more thing worth mentioning is that Rockstar confirmed GTA 6’s development earlier this year, again nearly 9 years after the release. However, GTA 6 rumors, speculation, and “leaks” have been on the internet long before that. Grand Theft Auto 6 has been a standard talking point for a long time, not unlike Mario Kart 9 (if perhaps more drastically).
Mario Kart 8 Means There’s No Rush for Mario Kart 9
Mario Kart 8 may not be the most profitable entertainment product of all time, but its sales mean for Nintendo what GTA 5’s sales mean for Rockstar—there’s no need to rush. Nintendo recently released an earning statement, confirming what many already knew: 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still one of Nintendo’s best-selling Switch games, selling nearly 10 million copies over the past year or so.
Recently, Nintendo commented that the next console generation is a major concern for it. Much like Mario Kart 9 and Grand Theft Auto 6, this is in part due to whether or not a new Switch model or entirely new product could live up to the success of the Switch. It set high standards, Grand Theft Auto 5 set high standards, and Mario Kart 8 set high standards. There’s no rushing in the next entry for another, with either GTA 6 or Mario Kart 9.
Mario Kart 9 may not have as many years of rumor and speculation behind it, but the past year or so has seen this pre-development cycle begin. Mario Kart 9 has been rumored to be in development, rumored to appear at Nintendo Directs, and much, much more. Even if Mario Kart 8’s recent DLC spells bad news for Mario Kart 9 making an appearance soon, there’s no doubt it will remain a talking point possible for years to come.
Mario Kart and Grand Theft Auto may be completely different franchises, but there’s no doubt the next entries in both franchises, Mario Kart 9 and Grand Theft Auto 6, find themselves in a similar boat. Fans want them, but the company is in no rush to release them.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is in development. Mario Kart 9 is not confirmed to be in development.