News Articles
Friday29th Aug 2014
News New Wii U and 2DS Bundles Announced, Rolling Out in North America this Fall
Shaping up for the holiday season
It may seem a little anticlimactic after today's big news, but for those happy to stick with trusty, old, familiar hardware, Nintendo have lined up a couple of decent bundles for this Fall. If you're in North America, you can expect some new Wii U and 2DS bundles to arrive on your shores just in time for the...
Thursday21st Aug 2014
Video This Drake-Inspired Mario Kart Rap is For Champion Racers
"Got all these races looking like they're just time trials"
There are only a few Nintendo franchises that can bring on very real trash talk; no, that Nintendo E3 press conference attempt for Wii Sports Resort back in the day does not count. One of these franchises that'll have friends and family boasting red shell success is Mario Kart, to this day...
Wednesday11th Jun 2014
E3 2014 Launch Sales of Mario Kart 8 Outperform Mario Kart 7 Figures in North America
An 18% attach rate in just three days
We already know that Mario Kart 8 enjoyed an exceptional launch, selling 1.2 million copies worldwide in its opening weekend. In an analyst meeting behind closed doors, it seems that the title has seized the honour of, initially at least, outperforming its 3DS predecessor. Senior Research Analyst David Gibson...
Thursday5th Jun 2014
News "Play Nintendo" Tour Rolling Through the U.S. this Summer
Play 2DS/3DS games! Sit in Yoshi eggs! Poke Kirby!
To "play Nintendo" was once a phrase attributed to the use of just about any electronic entertainment device. Not so much anymore, with the wider variety of choices out there, but Nintendo is bringing the term back somewhat with a 12-city summer tour. The Play Nintendo Tour, running from 6th...
Monday14th Apr 2014
News Nintendo of America is Cutting the Price of Five Top 3DS Games
All for $29.99 on the eShop and in stores
In a move that's sure to tempt those yet to pick up all of the hottest titles on 3DS, Nintendo of America has announced a price cut — starting on 22nd April — on five major retail games; these include the three biggest-selling games of all-time for the system in the region. All five games will drop to...
Tuesday8th Apr 2014
News Nintendo Releases An Awesome Mario Kart Infographic
Sorry arcade titles, you're out
With the release of Mario Kart 8 on Wii U preoccupying many minds ahead of 30th May, Nintendo is taking every opportunity to raise awareness and hype. Is there a better way to do this than with a fancy infographic? No, no there isn't. The infographic below shows the eight main series entries to date, spurning the...
Saturday15th Mar 2014
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo Life
Time for pure racing...
Earlier this year we had our first Mario Kart 7 community event of 2014, and unsurprisingly it was a lot of fun. Since that time the release date for Mario Kart 8 has been confirmed, and we've realised that we need a lot more practice before the new Wii U title rolls around. Besides, the 3DS game is still a blast to play over...
Wednesday12th Mar 2014
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo Life - Training for MK8
Now we're getting serious
Earlier this year we revived the Nintendo Life Mario Kart community event, enjoying some shell-throwing hijinks for a number of hours. It was fun, of course, and we can only apologise that it's taken us a little while to plan the next instalment. But still, let's do this. Mario Kart 8 arrives on 30th May and we intend to...
Tuesday25th Feb 2014
News Pre-orders for Mario Kart Ride-on Available at Toys 'R Us in the United States
Comes with a 100,000-mile or 1-Blue Shell warranty
Remember that sweet-looking Mario Kart ride-on we reported was coming to the UK later this year? Turns out Toys 'R Us customers in the United States can already put money down on the same set of wheels. Pre-orders for the Super Mario Kart Ride-on are currently open at the Toys 'R Us website. The 6V...
News Nintendo Confirms Club Nintendo Promotion for Free Pokémon X Or Pokémon Y Download
3DS or 2DS and one game required
Late last week a promotion leaked by Toys "R" Us emerged, in which new 3DS owners would have a chance to grab a free download of Pokémon X or Pokémon Y. Nintendo of America has now officially confirmed details that reiterate the promotion as targeted at new owners, or alternatively those that simply haven't...
Saturday22nd Feb 2014
Weirdness Here's Some Olympic Speed Skating, Mario Kart Style
Can we start the petition for a 2018 inclusion?
The heat of competition burns at your pounding heart, rivulets of sweat drip down your brow but you can't afford even a second to wipe it away. Your pulse marks each passing second, the weight of the world gathers on your weary shoulders and as the finish line comes into sight, you know the true...
Thursday20th Feb 2014
News Mario Kart Ride-on Racing into the UK Later this Year
"Billy, why'd you peel all the bananas?"
Let's admit it: some things just feel wasted on the young. With Nintendo stating its desire to increase its IP licensing, those of us who are adults can at least get away with buying the new plushies and figures and such that will come of this. But a licensed replica of Mario's very own Mario Kart as a...
Friday24th Jan 2014
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo Life - The Return
Start your engines
At the dawn of time Nintendo Life arranged community nights of online Mario Kart 7, and the gamers were happy. And lo, the ceremonies were ended in favour of seeking new forms of entertainment, exploring the world of online Nintendo gaming and seeking places where all could meet, unite as one, and compete in fun games. So began a...
Wednesday22nd Jan 2014
Play Mario Kart 7 With Nintendo Life - Choose Your Rules
It's baaaaaaaack!!!
There was a time, in early 2013, when team NL had a conversation that went like this... "Right, time for another Mario Kart 7 community night, right?" "Maybe we should see if any Wii U games have online community features." "Erm, Call of Duty?" "Nah, let's look into it." Well, we've been 'looking into it' — which means...
Saturday14th Dec 2013
News Marty Reminds 3DS Users What Not To Do On Miiverse
Now be responsible!
Nintendo of Europe's Marty has issued a new announcement via Miiverse regarding Code of Conduct and the sharing of Friend Codes on the 3DS and Wii U social network service. This timely reminder slots in with the recent Miiverse update for the 3DS, and has likely been issued to inform first-time Nintendo Network ID users about...
Monday9th Dec 2013
Weirdness This Real-Life Version Of Mario Kart Looks Extreme
Blue shells seem thankfully absent
Australia is the place to go if it's raw thrills you're after. Even just putting on a shoe is a potentially heart-racing experience as you wonder what kind of multi-legged monster is waiting within. Bungee-jumping and surfing may be getting a bit stale for some adrenaline junkies though, so what better way to liven...
Monday21st Oct 2013
News Sonic Can't Quite Dash Into the UK All-Format Top 10
Both Pokémon titles drop below the multi-format Skylanders SWAP Force
UKIE has issued its update of the latest comings and goings in the UK software all-format charts, and there are some positives and negatives for Nintendo to consider. At the higher end of the scale we have Pokémon X & Pokémon Y in fourth and fifth place respectively, both...
Monday14th Oct 2013
News Pokémon X & Y Occupy Third and Fourth Spots in UK All-Format Chart
The Wind Waker HD hangs on in top 10
The hype around Pokémon X & Y has finally ended, as many 3DS gamers around the world are now immersed in establishing their teams and training 'mon. Naturally we're left to wonder how the excitable build-up has translated to sales, and we'll have a good idea on Wednesday for Japan, though we'll need to wait...
Friday27th Sep 2013
News Awesome Mario Kart Trophies Added to Club Nintendo Europe
Four available for 5000 stars each
We suspect, based on our community game nights and events — they will return! — that Mario Kart 7 is pretty high on a number of favourite game lists. The franchise is also the classic multiplayer experience on Nintendo systems, successfully bringing out the most competitive instincts in players. Naturally, if...
Tuesday13th Aug 2013
News Nintendo UK Launches Mario Kart 7 Facebook App
Event Races and Time Trials to take on
For a number of months Nintendo UK has been hosting regular Mario Kart 7 community races, but those that want to compete and meet other racers will now have a chance to do so in more detail with the new Facebook app that's been launched. As well as weekly races, the new app will allow for greater interaction...
Friday9th Aug 2013
News There's a Real-Life Mario Kart for Sale
Don’t kick the tires
Ever wanted your very own life-sized Mario Kart? Or at least a replica that appeared in a TV spot? Your chance is now on that dream market called eBay! A Luigi Bumblebee Kart is currently listed for bidding, starting at $1,000 and closing shortly before 5 p.m. PDT on 10th August. Of course, if you want to forgo the excitement...
Thursday25th Jul 2013
News Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Racing to Arcades
Like Mario Kart 7 on steroids, and probably not as good
While talking about the Mario Kart franchise, we think the majority of people focus on those games published by Nintendo for its systems, but any discussion will have at least one person say "ah, but what about the arcades?" Typically they're not counted as part of the series, as they're...
Monday22nd Jul 2013
News Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros. Retains Third Spot in UK Charts
New Leaf is just one place behind
There was a time in the earlier days of the 3DS when new game releases, even first-party titles, would flirt with the UK all-format top ten on their debut week and drop away rather quickly afterwards. Momentum wasn't a word often uttered, as the system strove to establish a user base and challenge the big boys...
Tuesday9th Apr 2013
News Vote For Mushrooms Or Bananas In Nintendo UK's Mario Kart 7 Community Race Night
Takes place this Wednesday
Nintendo UK's Mario Kart 7 Community Race Nights have been going from strength to strength, and for this week's event the company is giving fans the chance to answer that age-old question: which is better, the mushroom or the banana? By posting a comment on Nintendo UK's official Facebook page, you can influence the...
Wednesday6th Mar 2013
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo UK - Round 2
Kicks off from 7-9pm UK time
At the weekend Nintendo UK invited racers to some rounds of Mario Kart 7, though without a huge amount of advance warning. Nevertheless, the event — which should be open to worldwide players, we imagine — clearly went down well, as another official community get-together is confirmed for today between 7-9pm UK time;...
Saturday2nd Mar 2013
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo UK
Bob-ombs at the ready!
Grab your race suit and join Nintendo UK in a special Mario Kart 7 community event happening right now. The event has been arranged via the official Nintendo 3DS UK Facebook page and is due to last until 4PM GMT. "The special Mario Kart 7 Community event code is 28-7591-1601-9148. The event is now open, good luck to all...
Friday22nd Feb 2013
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo Life
Start your engines
It's been too long, so much so that we may need to renew our licenses, but it's time to take to the track for some Nintendo Life community races in Mario Kart 7. We all like to think we're the next Sebastian Vettel with a red shell in hand, so now we have to prove it. Yesterday we asked you which rules you want in both our both...
Thursday21st Feb 2013
Play Mario Kart 7 Community Rooms - Choose The Rules
It's back
Last year we had a couple of rather fun community sessions playing Mario Kart 7, where the Nintendo Life community did battle with each other and some of the humble writing team. They were blood-baths of shell and banana skin-related tumbles, while tears were shed along with some choice curse words as podium places were lost. It was...
Friday30th Nov 2012
News Wii U Wasn't The Only Nintendo Hardware Launch In Europe This Month
We go hands-on with the gorgeous white 3DS XL
Nintendo doesn't do things by halves. November may mark the release month of the Wii U console in Europe, but that hasn't stopped the company from pushing out another piece of tech in the same time period. Today marks the release of the white 3DS XL Super Mario 3D Land bundle in Europe, which follows...
Wednesday28th Nov 2012
News Mario Kart 7 3DS XL Bundle Confirmed for North America
Rumour drifts into truth
Less than 24 hours ago we reported two fresh 3DS rumours, which involved a standard model price cut and a new XL bundle. It didn't take long for one of them to be confirmed by Nintendo, with Holiday shoppers set to be tempted by a blue 3DS XL that also includes Mario Kart 7. As previously reported, this bundle will have a...