Go Kart Island: Release Date and Nintendo Switch Announcement

Grumpy Pizza Games and Ant Workshop Ltd are excited to announce that Go Kart Island will launch on Nintendo Switch on Friday, 9 January 2026. The Steam version, self published by Grumpy Pizza Games, will release on Monday, 10 November 2025. Watch the release date trailer here.

About Go Kart Island

Go Kart Island brings open world kart racing, with a story mode, to the original Nintendo Switch on 9 January 2026! In the story mode, Lachlan the highland cow dreams of becoming Go Kart Champion by winning the BIG RACE, but the Island’s corrupt Mayor demands you raise 1,000 coins for an “entry fee”. Use items, driftslide and boost your way through various events including races, time trials and more!

• A full story mode with 34 different events and 150+ collectables to find in the open world.
• Events include six variations of races, time trials, chases, finding items, and delivering items.
• Giraffes? Turtles? SHEEP? We’ve got ‘em all. 32 different animals to chat with, race against, and unlock!
• Aim for the gold trophy in 84 challenges, adding a new twist and replayability to events completed in story mode.
• A variety of items to use on opponents and obstacles to avoid.
• Fully honkable kart horn. HONK!

Players can try the game before they buy, with the first nine events of Story Mode available in the demo. The demo is out now on Steam and will take part in October’s Next Fest.

Developer Quote

Go Kart Island is the debut title from Grumpy Pizza Games. Ewan McKenzie, the solo developer behind Grumpy Pizza, said:

“I’m so excited to announce the release of my game on Nintendo Switch! As a kid I used to design Mario Kart tracks with pencil and paper, so it really is a dream come true to release my own kart racer on a Nintendo console.”

“I started developing this game as a hobby in 2019, but after being made redundant in December 2024 I decided to take a chance on myself and work on it full time. The idea for an open-world game was to help differentiate from other kart racers, but as you might have heard a certain other franchise also had similar ideas. However I am pleased to bring a cow based karting game to the original Switch, it’s about time!”

Further Information

• A demo is available to play on Steam, featuring the first 9 events in the Story Mode：

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3749790/Go_Kart_Island/

• The trailer is available to watch on YouTube here：

Steam (PC) REVIEW embargo: 10 November 2025 14:00 UTC (14:00 UK / 15:00 CET / 09:00 EST / 06:00 PST)

This embargo is only for reviews of the game i.e. awarding a score. All other types of communication are encouraged with no restrictions.

Nintendo Switch keys will be available December 2025.

Nintendo Switch version is published by Ant Workshop Ltd. Steam version published by Grumpy Pizza Games.

Press Engine account of Amplified Games Ltd used with consent.