In the ever-evolving world of gaming, it’s no secret that development costs are soaring. As technology propels games into new realms of grandeur and complexity, consumers can expect to see higher price tags. Japanese gaming analyst Papen has taken a closer look at the staffing changes in the recently launched Mario Kart World compared to earlier titles, revealing a notable increase in team size, particularly within the art department.
“Papen highlights that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was crafted by a team of 163 talented individuals—18 in game design, 72 in programming, and 73 artists. In contrast, Mario Kart World boasts an impressive workforce with 22 game designers, 86 programmers, and a staggering 192 artists, marking a 119-person increase in the art section alone. Of those 192 artists, they are divided into two specialized groups: an 88-member field design team and a 57-member character design team. This significant uptick suggests that the expansive open-world environment of Mario Kart World played a crucial role in this workforce expansion.”
“Moreover, it appears that a majority of artists are newcomers to the Mario Kart franchise. In the field design team of Mario Kart World, only 6 out of 88 members had previously worked on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with just 1 having experience on the Booster Course Pass. The character design team reflects a similar trend, as only 3 members have ties to 8 Deluxe, and none participated in the Booster Course Pass. Notably, around 80% of the development team behind 2014’s Mario Kart 8 also contributed to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.”