Nintendo’s hotly awaited mobile title Mario Kart Tour caused an Internet meltdown when it launched last week, with many users complaining about server overload.

The frantic response to the launch meant users could not play the game that is seen as a major test of Nintendo’s mobile ambitions.

Mario Kart Tour players steer characters such as Bowser and Yoshi as they race karts through cities including New York and Tokyo.

Nintendo has been slow to expand into mobile gaming, choosing to focus instead on its hybrid Switch console. Its online subscription gaming business has lagged rivals Sony and Microsoft.