Mario Kart Tour Beta Drifts Onto Android Next Month, Here's How To Sign Up
There is an odd veil of secrecy surrounding Mario Kart Tour, the upcoming mobile port of sorts that will see Mario and his friends (and enemies) hit the pavement on smartphones and tablets. Nevertheless, while information is few and far between, we now know at least one additional thing—there is closed beta headed to Android next month.
The close beta is only being made available on Android, which is interesting. Why? When Nintendo released Super Mario Run, one of its first smartphone games, Apple iOS device owners were able to play while their Android-wielding brethen could only watch in envy. It was not until three months later that Super Mario Run strolled over to Android.
It seems Nintendo is reversing course with Mario Kart Tour, at least as it pertains to the closed beta. It is being developed by DeNA Co., the same company that made Super Mario Run. DeNA partnered with Nintendo back in 2015 to bring the company's iconic brands to mobile, and Mario Kart Tour is one of several planned releases.
Unfortunately, we don't know much about the game. Nintendo has not released any screenshots or teaser demos. Even the announcement for the closed beta is devoid of any real glimpses or information about the actual game.
"The closed beta test is a test of an application under development and is held for customers in order to improve the quality of the game. Furthermore, the number of customers who may participate in this test is limited. If the number of applications exceeds the number of possible participants, we will randomly select the participants," Nintendo explains.
Nintendo's application period for the close beta runs through Tuesday, May 7, with a cutoff at 7:59 pm PT. The closed beta will then kick off a couple of weeks later, running from Wednesday, May 22, to Tuesday, June 4.
If you want to submit an application, grab your Android phone and scan the QR code above (or head to the link in the Via field below and scan it there).
