Mario Kart News
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Full Character Roster List
Including that one you need to unlock
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is exactly what it sounds like — all of the goodies from the Wii U original, plus the DLC and a dollop of extras in one rather nice package. That means a packed character roster of over 40 racers, among other things, each with distinct looks, stunt animations and traits that could help you...
It's in the name
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. You can also setup various local and online sessions where you...
News Nintendo Shares A Launch Trailer For Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass
Take a break, watch, then go back to racing!
Hey, if you're reading this and not playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe right now, thanks! But seriously, you can and probably should be playing through the courses added in Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass right now. We won't tell anyone. To celebrate the launch, Nintendo has unveiled a launch trailer (above),...
The Tour begins
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Switch, the very definition of an 'evergreen' title. Aside from the Battle Mode and a few minor changes, however, devoted fans have been playing the same content since the Wii U original with its DLC content, a scenario that finally changes with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe-exclusive Booster...
Poll Will You Be Buying The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass DLC?
Let us know
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass has gone live, and as you might recall, there are a few different ways to experience this new DLC expansion. Here's the breakdown: 1. The first option is to buy it. When you purchase the Booster Course Pass, you'll get access to six waves and 48 courses for $24.99 USD / $32.99 CAN / £22.49 up...
Video Here's A Look At The New Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tracks - Direct Switch Footage
See the new DLC update in action
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's anticipated 'Booster Course Pass - Wave 1' update has arrived, and if you haven't got time to play each cup right away - don't worry, Nintendo Life's lovely video senior video producer has got you covered. Alex has uploaded 17 minutes of direct footage of the Wave 1 tracks in the new DLC...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Been Updated To Version 2.0.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Download it today
Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass is now officially live in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and as you might have guessed, there are now also now some patch notes available. This latest update takes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to Version 2.0.0. As noted below, Booster Course Pass play in online play will be supported as of 21st March. And once again,...
News Mario Kart 8's Booster Course Music Has Already Been Ripped, And It's Glorious
Alert! They've removed the midi horns!
We've still got a few hours to wait until Wave 1 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is playable here at Nintendo Life Towers, and so have most players in the West (most, but not
News Looks Like Some People In The West Are Playing The Mario Kart 8 DLC Early
"COCONUT MALL LOOKS SO GOOD"
The first batch of tracks from the Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pack will be available in just a handful of hours, but it looks like some folks in the West have already got their hands on the DLC. In a post on Twitter from @switchaswor, gameplay for the fan-favourite Wii course 'Coconut Mall' has been shown off,
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 1 Has A Release Time For Europe
Australia was confirmed first
Update: Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that the Booster Course Pass Wave 1 content will go live at midnight CET, which is 11pm UK. This matches up with the Australian release time, but there's no confirmation yet that it'll arrive in NA at its equivalent times - 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern. [The new tracks seemed to go...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Version 2.0.0 Now Live, Confirms All DLC Cup Names
Update: DLC now live globally
Update: The DLC content is now live and available globally. Original Article: As expected, especially in light of recent server maintenance, Nintendo has released the next big update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, taking it up to the giddy heights of Version 2.0.0. It's a meatier download and evidently installs the new...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Smart Steering - How To Turn Auto-Steering On And Off
Look ma', no hands!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. One of these is auto-steering, though it's not particularly...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Controls - All Control Options And Assists Explained
"I'm using motion controls!"
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. Players of all levels can find a comfortable...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Boost - How To Get A Rocket Start
Time for take off
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. No matter what your level of play, though, getting a fast...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Drifting Guide - How To Drift, Slipstream, And Boost
We're just driftin'
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. While you can get through 50cc and easier races with basic...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Blue Shells - How To Avoid Blue Shells
Everyone's favourite item
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular game on Nintendo Switch, no doubt partly due to the fact that it caters to players of all levels. Pro players with Jedi reflexes can compete in 200cc, while there are various speed classes and assists to help all racers have fun. What's not fun is leading a race and being bopped by a...
Return to the track later this week
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes a glorious return later this week on 18th March with the help of brand new DLC content. The first lot of courses (eight in total) are part of wave one - forming the Golden Dash Cup and Lucky Cat Cup. Ahead of the race later this week, Nintendo has asked fans over on Twitter what course...
News You Could Win Some Gold Points In The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe North American Open
Nice little cash prizes from Nintendo (sort of)
Nintendo has been continuing its promotion of online and competitive play in some key titles, albeit without blowing the doors off and gaining a lot of attention. Particularly through the Nintendo Versus account it highlights frequent competitions in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and...
Talking Point Not A Mario Kart Tour Fan? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Gives You The Best Of Both Worlds
Awesome for us Mario Kart Tour holdouts
The internet's a funny place. For years there was wailing and gnashing of teeth as the mobile-only Mario Kart Tour got all-new tracks and much-loved classics — "bring that content to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!", we demanded. Then the Booster Course Pack is announced and lots of (probably the sa
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - How To Farm Coins
No actual racing required
As much fun as it is to race around in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe it can take a seriously long time to unlock all those kart options through traditional means, and certainly if you ploughed through the original Wii U version you might think doing so sounds a lot like needless busywork. Well, thankfully there's a clever little way...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gold Kart - How To Unlock All Gold Kart Parts And Gold Mario
Glad that you're bound to return
Do you like gold? Of course you like gold, even if the look of it doesn't appeal to you the value surely must. Thankfully Nintendo wants us to flash our so-called bling as much as we do, and so they've tucked away a whole range of gold kart options in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for us to find. Well if you're feeling...
Guide Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Guide - Tips, Hints, Tricks And Unlocks
Get that boost with our expert tips
Whether you're entirely new to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or an old veteran from the Wii U original, the game has plenty of tricks worth knowing in order to ensure those podium finishes. Some of them are old methods that Mario Kart veterans will already know, but adjusted physics and mechanics in the Deluxe edition also...
Guide Best Nintendo Switch Kart Racers - Switch's Kart Racing Games, Ranked
From Worst to Best - who could possibly be in pole position?
When it comes to kart racers, there's one undisputed king of the crop on Nintendo systems, and we're not talking Crash Bandicoot. Let's not kid ourselves here — we all know what's sitting at number one on the list below of the best (and worst) kart racers on Nintendo Switch. With a...
News Nintendo's Mii Make A Surprise Return In The Latest Mario Kart Tour Update
Wave 1 & 2 are coming!
The future of Mii have been in doubt for some time now, and while Switch Sports made it seem like Nintendo was almost ready to move on from these classic Wii generation avatars, it appears they're not done with them just yet. In a surprise move, Nintendo has actually added Mii (and themed suits) into the latest update in Mari
News Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour Is Getting A New Update Soon, Raises The Level Cap
There's no slowing down
The latest entry in the Mario Kart series for mobile devices, Mario Kart Tour, will soon be getting a new update. It's not the usual content update though. This particular update will increase the level cap for drivers, karts and gliders and certain items' bonus points. These changes will take place next month in March...
News Chocobo GP's Final Fantasy Tracks Include One That Looks Suspiciously Like A Mario Kart Fave
Rainbow Raid?
Square Enix is bringing Chocobo GP to Switch soon — on 10th March to be precise — and Nintendo UK's Twitter account has posted a trailer showcasing a quartet of tracks based on locations from four different Final Fantasy titles. As you can see from the tweet below, four circuits for the upcoming kart racer are highlighted,...
News Mario Kart Convinced Nintendo's President To Join The Company In The '90s
"I didn’t really play many Nintendo games"
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has revealed that Super Mario Kart played a huge role in getting him to join the company earlier in his life. Speaking to Nikkei, Furukawa spoke about his history with Nintendo and how he came to work for the Kyoto firm. He admits that, although he had a Super Famicom...
Poll Will Mario Kart 8's Deluxe Booster Course Pass Make You Buy The NSO Expansion Pack?
Or are you still on the fence?
Nintendo recently announced the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, the DLC that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been sorely needing for quite some time. The Booster Course Pass will come in separate waves all the way up until the end of 2023, with the first wave coming in March. It will cost $24.99 USD / $32.99 CAN /...
Feature 16 Tracks That Need To Be In The Mario Kart 8 DLC
The hype begins
There are 48 new tracks coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe over the next two years, as part of the "Booster Course Pack" DLC that was announced in the February 2022 Nintendo Direct. Those 48 tracks will all be remakes of old, beloved tracks — and we've already seen the first wave, which brings 8 new courses and two new cups, the Golden...
Reminder You Don't Need The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass To Play The DLC
That's what friends are for
It's only around a month before we'll be able to dive into some shiny new content in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the release of the 'Booster Course Pass' first wave. Up to the end of 2023 there'll be six waves that'll bring a combined 48 courses to the game, priced at $24.99 USD / $32.99 CAN / £22.49 to get them all; it'll...
Guide Best Deals On Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Booster Course Pass DLC, Toys And Accessories For Switch
Best prices and buying options for Switch's biggest game
Update: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass DLC is now available! We've included some tips on how to get the DLC at discounted prices below... Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Nintendo Switch's best-selling game by a comfortable margin, already finding itself in the hands of 43.35 million...
Talking Point Nintendo Sticks With Mario Kart 8 Through 2023, But What About Switch?
Don't hold your breath waiting for a new generation system
The frenzy and excitement around this week's Nintendo Direct is settling down, and it seems that the general consensus among the majority is that it was pretty darn good. Through first- and third-party reveals, Nintendo has set out a release schedule up to September that is busy, to put it...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Is Finally Getting DLC
'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass' contains 48 remastered tracks
Nintendo has revealed that it is finally releasing DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Switch's best-selling game. 48 remastered tracks from past Mario Kart games will be included. These will be released in waves up until the end of 2023. The first wave arrives on March 18th...
News Switch Hackers Add Controller Pak Support To N64's Online Library
Time Trial Ghosts return in Mario Kart 64
One feature missing from Switch Online's Nintendo 64 library is Controller Pak support. Back in the day, it functioned as a memory card and could be used to store and transfer save files and other data (like Time Trial Ghosts in Mario Kart 64). While it can't be used in the Switch's N64 emulator, datamines...
Random Now This Is How You Should Be Playing Mario Kart On Switch
The perfect home setup?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling game on Nintendo Switch, and for good reason – it's rather excellent. You're almost guaranteed to have a fantastic time playing with your trusty Pro Controller (or Joy-Con if you're the unluc
Random This Weird Mario Kart Meme Is Supposed To Combat COVID
F-Zero transmission rates
We used to imagine that the future was a magical, sparkly place, full of flying cars and food replicators. It turns out that the future is really just a place where social media managers make confusing memes about a global pandemic. How boring. The report from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which is...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe To Undergo Maintenance Later Today
Making online play temporarily unavailable
Nintendo has announced that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be receiving a spot of maintenance today, leaving its online features unavailable for a few hours. The game's online functionalities will be inaccessible from 4:30pm to 9pm PT today, 25th January (that's 7:30pm to midnight ET, and the following morning...
UK Charts Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Returns To Winning Ways With Another Number One
No signs of slowing down
UK physical chart data is now in for the week ending 22nd January, revealing that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has once again returned to the top of the list. The game's had a great start to 2022 in the UK, only losing out on that number one spot once so far when Minecraft took the honours last week. Minecraft's down to sixth this...
Talking Point Could 'Mario Kart 9' Be The Smash Bros. Ultimate Of Racers?
Rarely does a project have so much time to simmer
Optimism is a wonderful state of mind, especially if it's rewarded. Around all of the recent renewed talk about Mario Kart 9 being in 'active development' we've definitely succumbed to giddy positivity about its prospects, and with some very good reasons. Nintendo rarely has so much time to work on a...
News New Trailer Gives Us A Better Look At Mario Kart Tour's New Track, Singapore Speedway
Part of this week's Singapore Tour
Nintendo has shared a second trailer for Mario Kart Tour's upcoming Singapore Tour, this time giving us a better look at its brand new track, Singapore Speedway. First teased at the end of last week, Singapore Speedway joins the likes of London Loop and Los Angeles Laps as the latest real world-inspired circuit in...
UK Charts Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Stays Top For A Second Consecutive Week
Five Switch exclusives make the top ten
UK physical chart data is now in for the week ending 8th January, revealing that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has remained on top for a second week in a row. The news means that, despite the game launching way back in 2017, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has so far been top of the charts in the UK for the entirety of 2022 so far...
Is an all-star Nintendo cast the "new twist"?
Don't get us wrong, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an amazing game and arguably the best entry in the series to date, but it's an enhanced port of a 2014 Wii U title - meaning we've technically been playing the same game for a very long time now. Fortunately, Nintendo might finally be readying itself to reveal...
News Nintendo Is Adding A New Course In Mario Kart Tour's Next Update
And Luigi is going on vacation
While we wait for Mario Kart 9, which is supposedly in "active development", why not check out Mario Kart Tour? The game's been available since 2019 and Nintendo is still providing it with regular content updates. At the end of last year, the game got the New Year Tour - adding in Bowser
News Mario Kart 9 Is "In Active Development" And Comes With A "New Twist", Analyst Claims
And we could see it later this year
It feels like an awfully long time has passed since the last traditional Mario Kart experience came our way. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe arrived on Switch back in 2017, which itself was a rerelease of 2014's Wii U entry, and with mobile's Mario Kart Tour and experimental Switch title Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit filling...
News Nintendo Is Adding Another 3DS Course To Mario Kart Tour
Bowser's Castle and Meowser bring in the New Year
With Christmas out of the way, Nintendo's mobile racer Mario Kart Tour is now looking towards the New Year. To send 2021 out with a bang, it'll be kicking off the 'New Year's 2022 Tour' on 28th December. It adds Bowser's Castle from Mario Kart 7 and Meowser - Bowser's cat form from Super Mario 3D...
Random Someone Recreated The Mario Kart 8 Animal Crossing Circuit On Their New Horizons Island
You can visit, too
The DLC tracks and characters that released for the original Mario Kart 8 on Wii U (and came included as part of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) were pretty special, giving kart racers the chance to burn around circuits based on other series outside the Mario games for the first time. F-Zero's Mute City and Zelda's Hyrule Castle were both...
Random Usain Bolt Says Mario Kart Helped Him Become An Olympic Champ
"I feel like it kinda helped my hunger"
Olympic sprint champ Usain Bolt got to the pinnacle of his profession through hard work, perseverance and innate natural talent, but he has admitted that video games also played a part in his drive for success. Speaking to BBC Gaming Reporter Steffan Powell, Bolt – who is an eight-time Olympic gold...
Music You Really Should Listen To Skario Kart: A Ska Tribute to Mario Kart 64
Sure, why not?
Mario Kart 64 has a special place in many of our hearts, a game that transformed the look of the series and introduced a number of classic tracks. It has some great music too, and a project that we've enjoyed listening to throughout today has been Skario Kart: A Ska Tribute to Mario Kart 64. It's an album you can listen to on...
Talking Point Mario Kart 7 And Its Infamous Course Skip Are Now 10 Years Old
One of the earliest Nintendo game updates we can remember
We're in a gaming era of plentiful patches, where it's common for games to get frequent updates starting on day one. There are some rare releases even today that receive either no updates or very few — unless there are frequent DLC additions — and one of Nintendo's selling points is its...
UK Charts Black Friday Deals See Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Back At Number One
As Pokémon takes a bit of a tumble
UK physical chart data is now in for the week ending 27th November, revealing that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has once again found itself at the top of the table. Jumping up from a seventh-place finish last week, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was featured in a special Black Friday Switch bundle deal, no doubt explaining the...
