Mario Kart - News
December2014
Competition Give Someone The Gift Of Nintendo This Christmas
Get that warm fuzzy feeling...
Thanks to our friends at the Nintendo Official UK Store, we have an extra special competition for Nintendo Life readers. As Christmas is a time of goodwill we want one lucky reader to give the gift of Nintendo to a friend or family member who, for whatever reason, deserves a treat this holiday season. The Wii U Family...
News Wii U System Update 5.3.1 Resolves Mario Kart 8 TV YouTube Issue
Also adds sweet, sweet stability
While not necessarily a feature used by many, Mario Kart 8's TV mode, allowing you to upload highlights directly to YouTube, is one of the games most modern features. That said, some users were encountering consistent errors with the feature, halting their attempts at racing stardom on the web. Nintendo promised an...
November2014
Video Here's How amiibo Works With Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors And Smash Bros. Wii U
Where does he get all those wonderful toys
Nintendo's take on the "toys to life" concept — known as amiibo — is finally here, and like so many Nintendo fans over the world we've been having some fun with these amazing little figures. For those who haven't had a chance to see what these awesome mounds of plastic can do, let us educate you with...
News This Mario Kart 8 Badge Set Brings Some Extra Style to Club Nintendo
Available right now in Europe and Australia
Club Nintendo sometimes gets criticism for not providing regular updates of neat collectibles, but the latest arrival in Europe and Australia may satisfy those with some Stars to spend — there's now a Mario Kart 8 badge set. A rather nice presentation box, pictured above, contains three metal badges...
News Sami Cetin Breaks The NTSC Super Mario Kart World Record On Mario Circuit 1
He's a Time Trial master
Super Mario Kart SNES has just had another barrier broken on the Time Trial Mode. You may recall us reporting that UK-based Mario Kart expert Sami Cetin was the first person to break the sub-58 second barrier on the PAL Version of Mario Circuit 1 on Christmas Day, 2013. After this amazing Christmas present it was almost...
News Mario Kart 8 Scoops Best Game Prize at British Academy Children’s Awards
Another cup won
It's been a big year for Mario Kart 8, with the racer boosting Wii U sales and delivering a franchise first with the recently released DLC. It's been given plenty of praise, and now has a relatively lucrative award to celebrate. Every year the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hosts its Children's Awards, to...
Video Jimmy Fallon Reveals He's A Keen Mario Kart 8 Bowser Player
It's good to be bad
We've all got our own personal preferences when it comes to Mario Kart. Some of these have been built up over the past two decades since the SNES original was released, while others are founded on more recent instalments. Which character a person picks says a lot about their play style and temperament — and thanks to an...
Weirdness Mario Kart Becomes A Temporary Reality In Tokyo
Every gamer's dream...
Go-kart rental company Akiba Cart is known for its usual monthly events, allowing people to race around the streets of Tokyo's busiest and geekiest district, Akihabara. However, last Sunday the neighbourhood was in for a treat, for a group of cosplayers dressed as Mario and company decided to take the stage and 'play' Mario...
Review Mario Kart Super Circuit (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Good for another lap
When the Nintendo 64 hit the market and suggested that 2D games had gone the way of the dodo, many of us that were fond of fancy sprite-work were forced to dust off elderly hardware to scratch our itch for the classic genres we held dear — until the Game Boy Advance came along, that is. Often reflected upon as the second...
News Mario Kart 8 Update Planned to Resolve MKTV YouTube Upload Error
The dreaded error code 104-1852
Mario Kart 8 has proven to be a major success for the Wii U in 2014, being critically acclaimed and — more importantly — performing well at retail. A feature it introduced as new to the franchise, of course, was Mario Kart TV, in which you can save, edit and view stylish replays of races. Another option is to...
Video Someone Has Built Mario Kart 8's Mute City Track In F-Zero X, Just Because They Can
You've got boast power!
Mario Kart 8's new DLC is a beautiful thing, offering additional characters, karts and tracks which breathe new life into what was already one of the best Wii U games. However, one of the highlights for the Nintendo Life team — all card-carrying F-Zero fans — is the Mute City track, which makes us want a sequel more than...
News Andy Murray Drops Mario Kart For Sudden Djokovic Tennis Match
Green shell firing should've come in handy…
After being defeated by Roger Federer in this week's ATP World Tour Finals in the group stage, UK tennis player and Grand Slam winner Andy Murray had decided to hang up the racket and pick up the pad for a day — Sunday to be exact. However, his R&R came to a screeching halt, as he received a call...
Video Nintendo Releases 60 FPS Trailers for Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 DLC
Have a EMP Indie event video as a bonus
Earlier this year YouTube announced that it'd update its service to finally support 60 frames per second (FPS) videos, which means that footage can be silky smooth and delicious for our eyeballs; that update went live at the end of October. The standard performance is 30 FPS, and if you're unsure of how...
Feature Our Predictions For The Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2
Vehicles and tracks up for grabs
Earlier this week, ahead of the launch of the first Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack, we let our imaginations — and hopes — run free in creating more DLC packs that we want to see. It was certainly fun for us, though a common complaint was that they weren't realistic. Forgetting the fact that predicting Zelda DLC a year ago...
Video Watch The Mario Kart 8 × Zelda DLC Running In Silky-Smooth 1080p 60fps
A Link To The Fast
The excellent first piece of paid-for DLC was released for Mario Kart 8 on Thursday, and it truly is a wonderful download, worthy of your hard earned money. We've waved lyrical about how great it is, but if for some reason you aren't yet convinced, allow us to push you off the fence with this video of Link, Tanooki Mario &...
Video Let's Play Mario Kart 8 With Lydia Part Two: Shell Cup 150cc Challenge
150cc or bust
Not so long ago I tested my skills at Mario Kart 8's 150cc Mushroom Cup, and as promised, I'm back to take on the Shell Cup. Have my skills improved in the time that has passed since I gunned for Mushroom Cup glory? Have I mastered my racing lines and become more adept at blasting back-markers with red shells? You'll have to watch to...
Video Relax With This Collection of Mario Kart 8 DLC Videos
Music! Comparisons! More Music!
It's Friday, which means the youthful among you may be planning a weekend full of fun and frolics, while those of us that are a tad older may be planning to sleep and catch up on our reading time — with pipe and slippers to hand, of course. Whatever the case for you, it can be nice to just relax and bask in the glow...
Play Get Racing In Our Mario Kart 8 Nintendo Life DLC GP
All new tracks, all the time
Today has brought us the first Mario Kart 8 DLC pack, which is no doubt being eagerly played around the world already. With tracks, characters and vehicles incorporating F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda and Excitebike alongside other fun new tracks, it delivers a terrific expansion to the racer. Naturally plenty will be...
Video Mercedes Releases Two New Real-Life Mario Kart 8 Commercials
We’ll also file this one under the ‘weirdness’ tag
Whether you like it or not, the free Mercedes DLC for Mario Kart 8 is here to stay. Whilst the initial announcement raised much discussion – and concern – about licensed content within Nintendo’s video game franchises, Mercedes-Benz has since cunningly naturalised the concept with the...
News Mario Kart: Super Circuit is Racing Onto The Wii U Virtual Console
Rated and ready for a US release
Update: It seems this title is coming out today in North America, as a trailer has been posted on YouTube: [ Original Article: While ambassadors of the 3DS have had their hands on Mario Kart: Super Circuit since 2011, the rest of the Nintendo community has been wondering when the Game Boy Advance title would...
News Mario Kart 8 Software Update and DLC Available Now
Rev up the Master Cycle
While there are some blockbuster titles arriving in stores this week, we suspect we're not alone in looking forward to one thing above all else — Mario Kart 8 DLC. The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 includes eight tracks, three characters and four vehicles, and we think it's an absolute treat. The good news is that it's...
Feature These Are The Mario Kart 8 DLC Packs We Want To See
This is just the beginning
At the time of writing the first DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 — The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 — is just hours away. It won't stop there, either, as next May will bring a second pack to the successful Wii U racer. Yet as we eagerly anticipate blasting around Mute City while playing as Link on the Master Cycle —...
Preview Power Sliding Around The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC
The great just got even greater!
Recently we were invited to Nintendo's UK headquarters to have a go at The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC that's arriving on 13th November, and naturally we just had to tell you what we thought of it. This is the first time a Mario Kart game has had DLC, so Nintendo has to make an impact to convince buyers to...
Video Enjoy a Turbo Boost With This Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 1 Overview
Race on a giant dragon, just because
It's now just a week before the first batch of DLC for Mario Kart 8 arrives; while it may seem slightly peculiar to be hyped for paid DLC, we suspect a good number of Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting this pack's arrival. For a thoroughly reasonable price there'll be a decent amount of content, and the fact that...
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 1 Hits on 13th November, Content and amiibo Details Confirmed
Rev it up
Among the many announcements during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast were some exciting details about a long-established Wii U game. Nintendo finally provided full release details on the first DLC pack for Mario Kart 8, while also confirming the compatible amiibo figuries for the racer. To kick off with the DLC, it arrives on 13th...
News Mario Kart 8 Software Update Will Unlock amiibo Functionality With Themed Mii Racing Suits
Speed meets style
In a recent update to the official Mario Kart 8 site — that seems to have been spotted early be eager fans — Nintendo has revealed some of the first details in relation to the game's long-awaited amiibo functionality, and announced that the relevant software update will be available from November 13th. According to the amiibo...
October2014
News Walmart Display Shows Us Which amiibo Are Compatible With Mario Kart 8, and More
Smashing up the tracks
It's no secret that many of the amiibo figurines already revealed will work across a range of compatible software titles, and now a recently-discovered Wal-Mart promotional display has shed some light on which are set for use in Mario Kart 8. Nintendo Force editor Lucas Thomas managed to grab a picture detailing a list of...
Video Try Not To Overheat As You Watch Excitebike Arena Footage From Mario Kart 8's DLC
Very excite
It's not long now until Mario Kart 8 gets its first helping of DLC, and to keep you keen Nintendo has released a video which shows off the amazing Excitebike Arena course — inspired, of course, by the NES game Excitebike. The course is packed with bumps which are perfect for trick boosts, and even features a massive status of the...
Tanooki Buggy also revealed!
If you haven’t already pre-purchased the upcoming Mario Kart 8 downloadable content, due out this November and May 2015, then this latest reveal might just be enough reason to take the plunge. Nintendo has released a new trailer revealing Yoshi Circuit from the 2003 GameCube series entry, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!,...
News Eiji Aonuma Wants Mario Kart 8's DLC Master Cycle In Future Zelda Games
Extra horsepower for the Zelda franchise
It's not long now until November, which means the first batch of DLC for Mario Kart 8 will arrive. As it's The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 and will include Link as a playable character, there's understandable hype. The recent reveal of The Master Cycle naturally grabbed our attention, then, a rather slick...
News Nintendo Reveals The Master Cycle for Mario Kart 8's Zelda DLC
"Plenty of horse power"
When Nintendo announced DLC for Mario Kart 8 it caused quite a stir, not least because it'll incorporate other much-loved franchises into the racer. There'll be The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 in November and Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 in May 2015, with each pack also incorporating other IPs such as F-Zero. Details...
Video Let's Play Mario Kart 8 With Lydia
First up, Mushroom Cup 150cc
Hi guys! I guess some introductions are in order. I'm Lydia and you may (or may not) know me from my YouTube channel Squid Gaming. I'm here to take on the Mario Kart 8 challenge set by those lovely folks at Nintendo Life. Whilst dancing to the Pokemon theme tune at EGX London (I know, what was I thinking?), I bumped...
Video Check Out Our Second EGX 2014 YouTube Mario Kart 8 Challenge
Twelve more YouTube gamers race to the finish line
EGX 2014 may be a fading memory for some, but here at Nintendo Life we're committed to making sure everyone remembers how truly amazing it all was. With that in mind, we bring you not one but two new videos from the EGX weekend, both of which focus on the live events we held which showcased the...
Event Mario Kart 8 UK Championship 2014 At EGX
Coverage from the big day
At this year's EGX we hosted the Mario Kart 8 UK Championship with The Official Nintendo UK Store in order to find the best Mushroom Kingdom racer in the entire country. After a series of gruelling online heats we whittled it down to 12 challengers, all of which met at EGX to decide who was the supreme talent on the track...
News Australian McDonald's Now Offering Mario Kart 8 Toys In Happy Meals
Race in and get them while you can!
If Pokémon trading cards and spin discs didn’t tempt any Aussie readers here on Nintendo Life a few months ago, perhaps these Mario Kart 8 toys Maccas – that’s McDonald’s to the rest of the world – are currently offering as their latest Happy Meal promotion in the land down under will. The Australian...
Video Which YouTube Star Is Best At Mario Kart 8?
They don't just play Minecraft, you know
Yesterday we brought you the special indie developer Mario Kart 8 tournament we ran at this year's EGX, and today we've got another racing treat — a similar event which features twelve of the UK's most popular YouTube gaming stars. The assembled challengers can call upon a combined total of over 12 million...
September2014
Video Which Indie Developer Is Best At Mario Kart 8?
We didn't know either, so we decided to find out
As we've already mentioned several times before until we're blue in the face, we helped Nintendo UK host the official UK Mario Kart 8 Championships at this year's EGX. During the four days we held daily competitions so attendees could show off their skills, as well as two special races which featured...
Weirdness Rainbow Road Muscles its Way onto Realistic Racer Assetto Corsa
Hilariously out-of-place
Rainbow Road from Super Mario 64 is a track steeped in many people's nostalgia banks, and Mario Kart 8 recreated that experience in HD for the first time earlier this year. Now, a clever modder who goes by the name of 'N64AC' has managed to get the original track working on an upcoming realistic racing simulator coming out...
Player Profile Mario Kart 8 Championship - Finalists 9-12
Rounding out the top 12
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has four online heats, with the top three in each of those heats then progressing to a live final at...
News B Dasher is Speeding Onto The Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack
Vroom vroom
The Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8 will be the first paid-DLC pack for the Wii U racer this November, and Nintendo has confirmed another of the new karts that will make an appearance. Joining the Blue Falcon from the F-Zero franchise will be the B Dasher, which made its début as the main box cover kart in Mario Kart DS, before making...
Player Profile Mario Kart 8 Championship - Finalists 5-8
Round Two!
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has four online heats, with the top three in each of those heats then progressing to a live final at EGX London -...
3... 2... 1... GO!
Despite some memorable moments from this game, it disappoints compared to its predecessor. Level of challenge almost non-existent; 150cc is comparatively a walk in the park. Rainbow Road is laborious and let's not get started on Battle Mode... Agreed, tracks are beautiful, with varied locations and their own challenges and quirks:...
Video These Hacked Mario Kart 8 Runs Show Tracks in a Whole New Light
Going off course
In recent weeks we've shared some videos from YouTube duo MrBean35000vr, which has followed up its modding of Mario Kart Wii with being the first notable team to hack Mario Kart 8. The modders have been keen to emphasize that their desire to not 'break' the game for others is making them think carefully on how to release the...
Watch Heat 4 - The Final Lap Of Our Mario Kart 8 Championship - Live!
Only three places left for the Grand Final
As you've no doubt noticed over the past few weeks, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer; there are some awesome prizes up for grabs. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three...
Player Profile Mario Kart 8 Championship - Finalists 1-4
Meet our first batch of finalists
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has four online heats, with the top three in each of those heats then progressing to a...
Play & Win Mario Kart 8 Championship - Heat 4 - Sunday 14th September
The Final Lap!
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three in each of those Tournaments then progressing to the live final...
News Mario Kart TV Update Allows You To Check Up On Friends, Tournament Videos and More
Take a look on your phone or PC
Mario Kart 8 is the ultimate evergreen title for Wii U, and is likely to retain that crown over the coming years. It's not just evergreen in terms of sales, either, but also through its ability to keep players coming back week after week; that's largely driven by the online options. Mario Kart TV is a part of this,...
Watch It's Getting Serious in Heat 3 Of Our Mario Kart 8 Championship - Live!
Watch Spamfish take on the challenge
As you've no doubt noticed over the past few weeks, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer; there are some awesome prizes up for grabs. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three in each...
News Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata Enjoyed a Mario Kart 8 Birthday Party
Eiji Aonuma and more joined in
Satoru Shibata, Nintendo of Europe President, recently celebrated his birthday with an online tournament in Mario Kart 8, which seems like a perfect way to enjoy the occasion; Nintendo UK has taken the liberty of tweeting the video of some Mario Kart TV highlights. It was a high profile MK8 party, too, with some big...
Tomorrow Watch Spamfish Attempt to Qualify in Heat 3 of our Mario Kart 8 Championship
Twitcher takes on the challenge, can you beat him?
twitch.tv/spamfish Twitch has been growing exponentially over the past year or so, even Nintendo Life has taken the plunge, but for a number of individuals Twitch, and 'casting', has become a way of life. During Heat 2 of our Mario Kart 8 Championship we came across popular 'Twitcher' Spamfish, who...
Play & Win Mario Kart 8 Championship - Heat 3 - Launches on Saturday 6th September
The penultimate chance to qualify
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three in each of those Tournaments then...
August2014
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...
Talking Point Mario Kart 8's Diverse DLC Sets Up Endless Potential for the Franchise
A vehicle that could be vital in future
It's safe to say that Nintendo caught us off guard with its recent DLC announcement for Mario Kart 8, with these extras bringing new franchises into the MK world and, just as importantly, serving up a significant dose of content. Once both packs arrive the number of courses will have doubled, which is...
Video Watch Us Test Drive The Three New Mercedes-Benz Cars In Mario Kart 8
A scenic drive through the Mushroom Kingdom
Mario Kart 8's Mercedes-Benz DLC is now live, and we've wasted no time in getting behind the wheel of these iconic vehicles and burning some rubber around the game's various courses. You can view the resultant footage below — be sure to look out for the awesome glowing effect on each car when it engages...
News Mario Kart 8 Update, Mercedes Karts and DLC Pre-Orders Now Live
Vroom vroom
Just recently we've had the exciting news that extensive DLC is coming to Mario Kart 8, the details ultimately accompanying the imminent arrival of the game's update and free Mercedes DLC. Nintendo's now unleashed plenty of details with the scheduled update and Mercedes content. It's worth noting that, at the time of writing, the game...
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Coming In November, Features Zelda, F-Zero And Animal Crossing
DLC packs promise new characters, courses and karts
Update: Nintendo of America has now issued a press release confirming the details outlined below. It provides the exact same detail, while also confirming US prices of $7.99 for each individual pack or $11.99 for the double pack. Original Article: A listing on Nintendo's UK online store has...
Play & Win Mario Kart 8 Championship - Heat 2 - Today!
Sunday, 2pm - 6pm (UK)
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three in each of those Tournaments then progressing to the...
News Somebody At Ubisoft Really Doesn't Like Mario Kart 8's Mercedes-Benz DLC
"Kinda breaks the magic"
In these days of rapid fire communication via social media, it's not uncommon for somebody to hastily post something to the world and get themselves into trouble. More often than not these gaffs are made by individuals, not those working on social media teams for multinational video game publishers such as Ubisoft. At 12:17...
Play & Win Mario Kart 8 Championship - Heat 2 - Launches on Sunday 24th August
Another chance for glory
As we hope you're aware, we've teamed up with the Official Nintendo UK Store to run the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship has multiple online Heats, with the top three in each of those Tournaments then progressing to the...
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...
Play & Win Join the UK Mario Kart 8 Championship First Heat - Today!
Qualification for the grand final is up for grabs
The time has finally come for the first heat of the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, which we're running in association with the Nintendo Official UK Store. It's all in aid of a quest to find the country's fastest Mario Kart 8 racer, and to have some fun at the same time. This Championship...
Video Nintendo's "Mario Kart 8 From The Pit" Series Sure is Energetic
Tips for beginners, shared loudly
Over the past year, in particular, Nintendo of America has been pushing plenty of video and social media content to promote its systems and games; other regions have done the same, yet NoA has commissioned a lot of unique content. It produced the imaginative and fairly flashy 'real-life' Mario Kart 8 trailers before...
Play & Win The UK Mario Kart 8 Championship, Heat One, Is On Saturday 16th August
The first step to being National Champion
Recently we announced that, in partnership with the Official Nintendo UK Store, we'll be running the Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014 in the UK, looking for the country's fastest racer who'll receive some fantastic prizes. This Championship will kick off with four online Heats, with the top three in each of...
News Super Mario Kart SNES World Championships Race Onto The Grid on 12th August
Watch the event live on Twitch
The Mario Kart franchise continues to thrive since the release of Mario Kart 8, but now it is time again for its eldest brother, Super Mario Kart, to hold the annual World Championships this week between 12th – 17th August at La Suze-sur-Sarthe in France. The original game actually has this huge event held every year...
News Mario Kart 8 Update & DLC Scheduled for 27th August
Finally stop selecting "View Highlights" by mistake
Update 2: This update and DLC has now been confirmed in North America, with Super Mario Kart now also available on the Wii U eShop. Update: This update has now also been confirmed for 27th August in Europe. Original Story: Nintendo has updated its Japanese website with the following details...
Competition Nintendo Life Set To Host Mario Kart 8 Tournament at EGX London 2014
A year's worth of games and more up for grabs
As you may have noticed, in recent weeks we've run a couple of Mario Kart 8 tournaments for UK gamers, with eShop funds up for grabs. These have been in partnership with the Official Nintendo UK Online Store and have attracted hundreds of players. We're now stepping things up a notch with the Mario Kart...
Play & Win Here Are The Mario Kart 8 UK Tournament Rematch Results
Thanks for playing!
Thanks to our friends at the Official Nintendo UK Online Store we held another Mario Kart 8 tournament yesterday; we changed things slightly by increasing the number of races from 12 to 16 and reducing the number of hours from 6 to 4. There was a total of £120 eShop credit up for grabs to our top three racers — competition was...
July2014
Play & Win Join the UK Mario Kart 8 Tournament Rematch - Today!
More eShop funds up for grabs
Earlier this week we told you about the second Mario Kart 8 tournament we're running for UK racers. The rematch is all set for today, in which participants have four hours to complete 16 races in a battle for delicious eShop funds. Details are below, so good luck! What:: Once again, this is for UK readers. The top...
Video If You Like Mario Kart 8, Princess Peach and Alternative Rock Music, You'll Love This
Mario Kart TV, a saviour of YouTube
Mario Kart TV, a relatively simple idea of allowing stylish highlight reels with super slow-mo, has become a goldmine of memes and better advertising for Mario Kart 8 than money can buy. The Luigi death stare is so cool that Nintendo even adopted the viral hit for its own advertising in Japan. We had a go at...
News Mario Kart 8 Sold 2.82 Million Copies In A Single Month
And that doesn't include copies sold after June, either
Nintendo has revealed that its Wii U racer Mario Kart 8 sold 2.82 million copies worldwide during its first month of release. The title launched at the end of May, and by the close of June it had shifted almost three million units all over the globe — an impressive achievement when you...
Play & Win Join The Grid for The UK Mario Kart 8 Tournament Rematch on Thursday
Another £120 eShop credit up for grabs
Just this past weekend we hosted a special UK Mario Kart 8 tournament in which eShop funds were up for grabs over the course of a 6 hour competition. In the end our planned three prizes — totalling £120 of credit — were split between three racers that hit the maximum score; that's quite an achievement...
Live Nintendo Life Plays Mario Kart 8 on Twitch
Aiming for the podium
It's that time again, dear readers, for us to be humiliated by far faster racers by playing Mario Kart 8 live on Twitch. Anthony Dickens and Tom Whitehead will be joining in (12 races) for a tournament we're currently running — with prizes courtesy of Official Nintendo UK Online Store — in the UK. Once we've completed a run...
Play & Win UK Mario Kart 8 Tournament - Live!
eShop funds up for grabs
Earlier this week we told you about a special Mario Kart 8 tournament we're running for UK racers. The day is here, in which participants have six hours to complete 12 races in a battle for some lovely eShop funds. Details are below, so good luck! What:: Nintendo Life is holding a one-off regional Mario Kart 8 Online...
Play & Win UK Mario Kart 8 Tournament this Saturday
Points make prizes
We all like to think we’re pretty good at Mario Kart 8, but there is only one way to decide who deserves the top spot of the podium here in the UK – it’s time for a tournament! What:: Nintendo Life will be holding a one-off regional Mario Kart 8 Online Tournament for our UK readers. The top three qualifying players will...
Video This Cool Slow-Mo Mario Kart 8 Japanese TV Advert Even Features Luigi's Death Stare
Embracing the meme
Nintendo clearly knew it had produced a terrific feature — with Mario Kart TV in Mario Kart 8 — right from the off, strongly featuring slow-mo replays in its pre-release Nintendo Direct broadcast; to humorous effect. That said, Ninty may have been surprised when the Luigi 'Death Stare' went viral in a YouTube video, getting...
News Mario Kart 8 Secures Place as Top-Selling SKU in NPD June Sales, With Hardware Boost for Wii U
Tomodachi Life joins MK8 in overall Top 10
The latest NPD results — which provide data on physical retail sales in the US — have been released, and Nintendo has been confident enough about the outcome to break recent trends and provide a press release update on its position. There are strong numbers for both the Wii U and 3DS. To begin with...
News Mario Kart 8 Is £29.99 Again At GAME, Today Only in the UK
Don't stall
Not so long ago we pointed you to an enticing one day deal for UK gamers to grab Mario Kart 8 for just £29.99. That was through the GAME online store, and it seems the deal is back for another flash-sale today (16th July), again for one day only. Once again it's the disc version of Mario Kart 8 — which you can grab
Video Mario Kart 8 Final Reveals The Top UK Family Racer
Speed demons
After weeks of heats and numerous family competitors, Family Gamer TV whittled the field down to the final four racers in their Mario Kart 8 competition. In a head-to-head final race the families each cheered on their children to complete Toad Harbour ahead of the field. Ben (racing as Mario, top left), Jarvis (racing as Larry, bottom...
News Mercedes Reports a Boost in Interest Since Announcing Mario Kart 8 Ad and DLC Deal
Marketing Experts 1 - 0 Jaded Cynics
There were some raised eyebrows when free Mercedes DLC — along with a marketing campaign — was announced for Mario Kart 8 in Japan, and more excitable chatter when that same content was confirmed for the West. Some are indifferent to the whole thing, others are pleased, while there's certainly a contingent...
Video Mario Kart 8 Isn't The Only New Mario Kart Game You Can Play In 2014
You'll have to leave the house, though
There once was a time when the latest arcade hits were ported to home consoles with great fanfare, but these days most coin-ops are left in their natural habitat. That's been the case with the Mario Kart Arcade GP series, produced in collaboration between Nintendo and Bandai Namco Games. It's a shame, because...
News These Lucky Kids Got McDonald's Happy Meal Mario Kart Toys Direct From The Brothers Themselves
Envy is a terrible thing
McDonald's has a long tradition of hawking lumps of Nintendo-themed plastic with its Happy Meal range — we still have fond memories of the Super Mario Bros. 3 toys which launched more than twenty years ago. Similar playthings were recently given away in the UK, and in Sou
Play Time for Another Nintendo Life Community GP - 12th July
Get ready!
A while ago we had our first NLife Community GP, which allowed us to take each other on in the terrific Mario Kart 8. There's been a lot going on since that last tournament but now there's no excuse; it's time to do it again. So, let's do this. It's a code-based tournament — this is for the community after all — with all the details...
News Four Students Set New Mario Kart Marathon World Record
"As a matter of fact this was an incredibly difficult thing to achieve"
Many of us have had some excessively long gaming sessions, after which we may look back and think "what was I doing?!". They can be fun, though, and there are often teams of people that use gaming marathons to raise money for charity, among other things, taking what is an...
News GAME's One Day Mario Kart 8 Deal, for £29.99, is a Must Buy for UK Racers
Don't delay
Are you a Wii U owner in the UK that still hasn't picked up Mario Kart 8? Perhaps you've seen cheap Wii U system deals and aren't sure whether to take the plunge? This one day deal on the fantastic racer may push you over the edge in either direction. GAME has reduced the disc version of Mario Kart 8 to £29.99 — which you can grab on...
June2014
News Mario Kart 8 Speeds Past The Two Million Copies Sold Barrier In Less Than A Month
Wii U hardware sales are up, too
During Nintendo's 74th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders it has been revealed that Mario Kart 8 has shifted an impressive two million copies in the month it has been on sale. In addition to this welcome news, it has also been stated that Wii U hardware sales are on the rise too — although this presumably...
News Mercedes DLC Confirmed for Mario Kart 8 in the West
High-end wheels
In late May we brought you the surprise news that free Mercedes-themed DLC is coming to Mario Kart 8 in Japan, the latest title to follow that path through a licensing agreement — we saw Nintendo do this with the Callaway brand in Mario Golf: World Tour. At the time Nintendo wouldn't comment on a potential Western arrival, yet it's...
News Nintendo Needs To Cut Wii U Cost To Capitalise On Mario Kart 8 Success, Says Ubisoft CEO
"Nintendo has to perform this year, otherwise they will have less games"
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has passed judgement on the Wii U's future in an interview with CVG, stating that the Japanese firm needs to get more machines into homes if it wants to remain a key player in the market. Guillemot — whose company has supported the Wii U perhaps...
News Mario Kart 8 Speeds Into Second Place In NPD May Sales, Kirby Powers Up In Ninth
Impressive results in software, Wii U hardware sales improved over May 2013
We already know that Mario Kart 8 enjoyed a terrific launch, confirmed to have sold 1.2 million copies in its opening weekend and to have boosted hardware sales in UK. It's a vital first step in driving Wii U
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...
Poll Should Nintendo Patch The Controversial Fire Hopping Technique In Mario Kart 8?
New trick shaves seconds off lap times
Every new Mario Kart release comes with its own little tricks, but sometimes these speed-boosting techniques are seen as largely unintentional on Nintendo's part, leading fans to decry them as "exploits" rather than recognizing them as legitimate strategies. In Mario Kart 8's case, the "Fire Hop" is dividing...
Play The Nintendo Life Mario Kart 8 GP Is Now Open
Come join our rolling tournament
As we all know, Mario Kart 8 is now available worldwide, and many of you will already have spent countless hours navigating its various courses and taking out rivals with red shells. With the view of bringing the Nintendo Life karting community together, we've opened up a rolling tournament called Nintendo Life GP,...
Video Family Gamer TV's Mario Kart 8 Championship Plays The Motorsport Card
The search for the UK's best Mario Kart 8 family is under way
As we reported previously, the search for the UK’s top Mario Kart 8 family is now under way. The first two round results have just gone live today, with the top member of the Hunt and the Sharp family going forward to the finals. This is the first time these families have played the...
Weirdness Luigi's Mario Kart 8 'Death Stare' Is Deemed Noteworthy By Fox News
More exposure for Mario Kart 8, though
One of the more amusing memes to come out of Mario Kart 8 has to be Luigi's "Death Stare", which we're pretty sure you've seen several times in the game itself, as well as on various social networking sites. It would appear that this particular element of Nintendo's new Wii U racer has well and truly "gone...
News Mario Kart 8 Sells More Than 1.2 Million Units in Opening Weekend
Immediately becomes one of the Wii U's top sellers
This past weekend was all about Mario Kart 8 for plenty of Wii U gamers, and Nintendo has now released figures that show a particularly impressive performance for the title in its opening weekend — the hype and excitement seems to have paid off. Nintendo has confirmed that from 29th May (the...
Video Here's a Charming Mario Kart 8 Song to Start Your Week
Goodbye Blue Shell by Ryan Craddock
A good number among the Nintendo Life community have, we suspect, emerged blinking into the daylight after Mario Kart 8's arrival last week — a full weekend of racing can be a tiring endeavour. As such we may need a pick-me-up to get through the start of another week. This song from budding YouTube artist Ryan...
News Mario Kart 8 Drives Wii U Sales In The UK, Claims Second Place Behind Watch Dogs
Hardware sales up 666 percent
To the surprise of pretty much nobody, Ubisoft's Watch Dogs has claimed the top spot in the UK multiformat chart — but Mario Kart 8 has sped into second place, causing a massive spike in Wii U console sales. According to Chart Track, the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Watch Dogs claimed the top two spots, with Mario...
May2014
Mario Kart Month Nintendo Life's Team Shares Its Early Thoughts on Mario Kart 8
Share your impressions, too
Mario Kart 8 is now well and truly settled in on plenty of Wii U systems around the world. It seems that Friend Lists have never been busier, too, as a quick glance at almost any time of the day shows most are actively blasting around tracks. If you're a Wii U owner, there are decent odds this applies to you. That's also...
What about those other items?
Whilst core items such as the banana, shell and mushroom have carried the traditions of the Mario Kart series over the past 22 years, there are many other forgotten, reinvented, and even untouched items that arguably contin
Mario Kart Month What Mario Kart Means To Me
Dave Letcavage shares his experiences with the series
In this personal reminiscence, Nintendo Life contributor Dave Letcavage explains how important the Mario Kart franchise — and gaming in a broader sense — are to him, recounting events of his life in which they've been invaluable sources of entertainment, fun and escape. You don’t need me...
News If You Like Rainbow Road Music, This Album Is For You
Shiryu brings us Rainbow Road Adventures
As you may have guessed from all the Mario Kart 8 articles, today is the Wii U title's launch day. A happy occasion for many Wii U owners, certainly, and one being celebrated in various ways. One such celebration that we think you'll enjoy is this album, Rainbow Road Adventures from musician and Nintendo...
Mario Kart - Features
Forum Topics
4 replies |
79,795 replies |
15 replies |
Is this Nintendo Switch game damaged?
6 replies |
1,880 replies |
2,483 replies |
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon
26 replies |
Most Read
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Version 2.3.0) Character & Vehicle Performance ...
Mini Review Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 4 - The Brand-New Track Is ...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Been Updated To Version 2.3.0, Here Are The Full...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Character Menu Now Has Five Extra Spaces For Futur...
News Nintendo Brings Splatoon 3 & Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tournaments To PAX ...
Poll What’s Your Favourite New Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Track In Wave 4?
Random You Can Now Buy A Real-Life Mario Kart And We Want One
News Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit...