Can You Play Mario Kart on Both Wii and Nintendo Switch?
No. As it currently stands, there is no way to play Mario Kart cross-platform between the Nintendo Wii and Switch consoles. Their system architectures, game libraries, and online services remain incompatible.
But let‘s fully break down your options for enjoying Mario Kart multiplayer within each platform, and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Local Multiplayer Options
While you can‘t directly race friends between the Wii and Switch ecosystems, both platforms allow for epic Mario Kart sessions in-person:
| Console | Max Local Players | Control Options |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Wii | 4 players | Wii Remotes |
| Nintendo Switch | 8 players * | Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers |
**Across multiple Switch consoles
The Nintendo Switch edition, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, clearly provides expanded flexibility – enabling up to 8-player wireless play by linking together multiple Switch systems locally. So if you‘re planning a big Mario Kart party, Switch has Wii beat.
| Online Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Can Play Together? |
|---|---|
| Wii vs Switch | No |
| Wii vs Wii | Yes |
| Switch vs Switch | Yes |
But when it comes to online competition and multiplayer outside of your living room, unfortunately neither platform can interface directly for cross-play.
The Wii and Switch Online Dilemma
See, the Wii utilizes Nintendo‘s older Nintendo Network platform, while the Switch runs on Nintendo‘s newer Nintendo Account system:
- Purchases, friends lists, and online progress do not carry over between these distinct ecosystems.
- And there are no plans currently to integrate Nintendo Network with Nintendo Accounts.
So if you‘re migrating from Wii to Switch, you‘ll have to:
- Re-purchase games to play their Switch editions
- Rebuild friends lists via linking social media accounts
- Start over on online leaderboards
It‘s far from ideal. As a passionate gamer myself, I‘d love to see Nintendo work on bridging this gap for fans invested in both platforms.
Mario Kart Showdown: Wii vs Nintendo Switch
As it stands, the Wii and Switch both offer fantastic Mario Kart exclusives:
- Mario Kart Wii first introduced motorbikes and epic stunt mechanics on the Wii back in 2008.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brings back the series‘ tight mechanics with enhanced HD graphics, an expanded roster, and complete battle mode on Switch.
For multiplayer fun, you honestly can‘t go wrong either way. But if playing the newest Mario Kart experience with maximum local players drives you, I‘d give the edge to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch.
My hope is that Nintendo develops some kind of Nintendo Account/Network integration that finally enables online cross-play or even cloud syncing. But for now, friends will need to gather around a common console ecosystem for that Mario Kart magic.
Have thoughts on Mario Kart‘s trajectory across Nintendo platforms? Share your perspectives in the comments below!
