Mario Kart Tour real-time multiplayer for iOS launches to everyone on March 8

Nintendo has announced this evening that Mario Kart Tour on iOS is officially adding real-time multiplayer support next week. This comes after a beta testing program that ran in December. Unlike the beta program, however, Mario Kart Tour multiplayer will actually be available to all users.

Mario Kart Tour real-time multiplayer will officially launch on March 8 at 8 p.m. PT, Nintendo announced today. There will be three different ways to play:

• With Friends or Others Nearby: Choose your own rules and race with friends or others nearby; rules do not change
• Standard Races: Race against players around the world to raise your grade with rules that change daily; two sets of rules change daily
• Gold Races: Available exclusively to MKT Gold Pass Subscribers, compete with the best of the best for the highest grade; four sets of rules change daily

Here’s how Nintendo describes the feature:

Race against players worldwide to raise your grade under rules that change daily in Standard Races and Gold Races. When racing friends or others nearby, Rooms let you pick speed, item slot number, and more.

During the beta testing program in December, Mario Kart Tour multiplayer was limited to Gold Pass subscribers. This time, however, everyone will be able to participate in the friends and nearby races, as well as standard races. Only the “Gold Races” will be limited to the paying users. The Gold Pass in-app purchase is a $4.99 per month subscription.

Mario Kart Tour realtime multiplayer goes live on March 8. In the meantime, you can download Mario Kart Tour from the App Store now to start practicing.

Multiplayer for #MarioKartTour comes out on Mar. 8, 8 PM PT! You can compete against seven other players, whether they're in-game friends, nearby, or around the world. Are you ready to play? pic.twitter.com/IRwBONq560

— Mario Kart Tour (@mariokarttourEN) March 3, 2020

Race against players worldwide to raise your grade under rules that change daily in Standard Races and Gold Races. When racing friends or others nearby, Rooms let you pick speed, item slot number, and more. Play your way when #MarioKartTour multiplayer launches Mar. 8, 8 PM PT! pic.twitter.com/ckkekAsbHS

— Mario Kart Tour (@mariokarttourEN) March 3, 2020