McDonald’s has announced a new partnership with Nintendo, bringing back Mario Kart toys to its restaurants. However, fans should note that these toys will only be available in Australia. The teaser image released by McDonald’s may look familiar to many.
For years, McDonald’s and Nintendo have collaborated to provide exciting toys, events, and giveaways. These promotions have become highly anticipated by collectors and fans, often resulting in significant demand. One notable example was the McDonald’s Pokémon Trading Card Game giveaways, which generated considerable excitement.
Starting September 5, McDonald’s will reintroduce Mario Kart Happy Meal toys in Australia. So far, the company has released one teaser, featuring Mario driving his kart from behind. This teaser suggests that the toy is similar to the one offered in the United States in 2022. It is expected that the full range of toys will also be part of the upcoming promotions in Australia. During the previous collaboration in the U.S., eight different karts were given away, including characters like Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Peach, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, and Bowser.
No New Mario Toys for Now
While it may be disappointing for some that these are not entirely new toys, McDonald’s has a history of successful collaborations with Mario.
Recently, the fast-food giant partnered with Mario and Universal to release toys based on The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In Japan, a set of Mario toys was created to promote Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo Land.
Australia’s current offering mirrors the earlier U.S. collaboration, and it is possible that similar toys could arrive in other regions once the Super Nintendo World area opens at Universal Orlando, which is expected in 2025.
Additionally, there is a chance that more Mario-themed toys will be introduced to coincide with upcoming game releases.
For instance, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is set to launch in 2024, which could lead to a promotional tie-in. However, no significant leaks regarding this have surfaced yet. Even if this specific game does not have a McDonald’s partnership, Nintendo is known for consistently developing new Mario titles, suggesting that future collaborations are likely.
Currently, Australian fans are expressing excitement about this Happy Meal toy collaboration. Many have shared their enthusiasm for receiving plastic toys again, as opposed to the cardboard options that have been used recently. Gamers in Australia are encouraged to visit McDonald’s soon after the new Happy Meals launch, as supplies may be limited.