Mario Kart Toys Make a Comeback at McDonald's, but with a Catch

McDonald's and Nintendo are teaming up once again, bringing Mario Kart toys back to the fast-food giant’s outlets. However, there's a twist: these toys will only be available in Australia. And if the teaser looks familiar to some fans, there's a good reason for that.

Over the years, Nintendo and McDonald's have collaborated numerous times, launching toys, special events, and giveaways at McDonald's locations. These collaborations often generate significant excitement among fans and collectors, sometimes even leading to shortages due to high demand—just like the Pokémon Trading Card Game giveaways McDonald's has run in the past.

Starting on September 5, McDonald's Australia will offer Mario Kart Happy Meal toys. So far, McDonald's has released a teaser showing Mario from behind, racing in his kart. It appears that this is the same Mario Kart toy that was part of a giveaway in the United States in 2022. If this is the case, it's likely that the rest of the toy lineup from the U.S. will also be available soon at McDonald's locations in Australia. The previous collaboration in the U.S. featured eight different karts: Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Peach, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, and Bowser.

No New Mario McDonald's Toys—For Now

Although some might be disappointed that these toys aren't part of a brand-new line, it's worth noting that Mario-themed collaborations with McDonald's have been plentiful recently. For example, McDonald's, Mario, and Universal Studios teamed up to release toys based on The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and in Japan, a collection of Mario toys tied to Universal Studios' Super Nintendo World was launched. Just as Australia is now receiving the toys from the U.S. collaboration, the Western market might see these Japanese toys when the Super Nintendo World area opens at Universal Orlando, which is scheduled for 2025.

There could also be more Mario toys in the future to promote upcoming game releases. The anticipated Mario and Luigi: Brothership game is set to launch later in 2024, potentially paving the way for a related toy promotion. However, no major leaks have hinted at such a tie-in yet. Even if this particular game doesn’t get a McDonald's promotion, it’s likely only a matter of time before another Mario title gets featured, given Nintendo's ongoing development of new Mario games.

For now, fans in Australia are eagerly anticipating this Happy Meal collaboration. Many have expressed their excitement over the return of plastic toys, as opposed to the cardboard ones that have been used in recent giveaways. Australian gamers should plan to visit McDonald's soon after these Happy Meals hit the stores, as the toys might sell out quickly.