Mario Kart World was developed under the internal project name “Drive,” according to verified documentation reviewed by NintendoSoup and shared with SwitchTwoNews.
Drive Joins the Mario Kart Codename Lineage
Nintendo has long used codenames during development, and “Drive” now officially joins the series’ behind-the-scenes history. For example, Mario Kart 7 was known internally as “Dash,” while Mario Kart 8 carried the codename “Turbo.” The Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was referred to as “Charger.”
While these codenames are never visible to the public during development, they offer a peek into Nintendo’s structured and consistent internal labeling system—especially for major franchise entries. “Drive” fits right in as the next logical step in that sequence.
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Switch 2 Codenames Also Surface
This isn’t the only codename news making the rounds. Alongside “Drive,” sources have confirmed that “U-King-O” and “EX-King-O” are the project names for the upcoming Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, respectively.
The “O” suffix stands for “Ounce,” a known codename for the Nintendo Switch 2 platform. This follows the tradition of the original Switch being codenamed “NX.”
More Codename Deep Dives
Read: 5 GameCube Games We Wish For Switch 2
Also: Castlevania Reboot Still in Development, According to VGC
