Mario Kart Steering Wheel Is Coming, but Is It Worth Waiting For

On May 20, HORI officially announced two Mario-themed racing wheel peripherals for PC, Nintendo Switch2, and the original Switch: the Mario Kart Racing Wheel DX for Nintendo Switch 2 and the Mario Kart Racing Wheel for Nintendo Switch 2. Both are due in June 2026, and according to HORI, they are the company’s first steering wheel controllers made for Switch 2, with full official Nintendo licensing.

For players who still like the idea of pushing a living-room kart racer a little closer to an arcade setup, that positioning matters. These are not must-buy competitive tools, and they are unlikely to decide who wins a race. What they promise is something simpler: a more tactile, more tailored way to play Mario Kart, from a brand that is at least treating the hardware seriously rather than just borrowing the license for attention.

There are two versions, and both come with pedals. The higher-end DX model is priced at 15980 yen including tax, roughly 683 RMB, while the standard model costs 9980 yen including tax, or about 426 RMB. The split is clear enough. One is aimed at a more simulation-like, immersive setup, while the other is a lighter entry point that leaves room for players on different budgets.

In hardware terms, the DX model is the one for people who want the more serious setup. Its wheel measures about 28 cm across, the grips use non-slip rubber, and it supports both clamp and suction cup mounting. HORI says it fits desks from 0.6 cm to 4.5 cm thick. The wheel itself connects over USB-A, with a cable length of about 3 meters, while the pedals connect to the wheel base through a combined plug. None of that is revolutionary, but it is familiar, stable, and practical for use across PC and both Switch generations.

The standard version feels more clearly aimed at families and casual users. Its wheel diameter drops to about 22 cm, with the wheel weighing around 0.7 kg and the pedals around 0.3 kg. Overall, it is lighter than the DX model and easier to put away after a session. That matters more than it sounds. Accessories like this can easily end up feeling more fun in theory than in daily use, and the standard model at least seems closer to the way many people actually play: bring it out for a few races, then store it without much hassle.

There is also one smaller detail worth noting. Both wheels include a press-and-hold lock function, but they activate differently: on the DX model, it works by holding the item button, while on the standard model, it is triggered by holding ZL. Once enabled, the input stays active even after you let go. The feature is mainly intended for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, specifically for keeping an item dragged behind your kart, and it is not compatible with Mario Kart World. For longtime players, that makes it a useful quality-of-life addition. For anyone buying in mainly for newer content, its value is more limited than expected.

The buying advice is fairly straightforward. If you have the budget, a suitable desk setup, and want Mario Kart to feel a bit closer to an arcade cabinet, the DX version looks like the safer pick. If you mostly want something to liven up a few rounds with friends or family, the standard version is probably the more sensible choice. With accessories like these, bigger specs do not automatically mean better value. The real question is whether you want to pay for that extra layer of immersion. For a series as naturally suited to group play as Mario Kart, sometimes adding one more wheel will not change the outcome, but it can absolutely make the ride more enjoyable.