UPDATE: Vooks editor Daniel Vuckovic has admitted that the images were fakes - we blame hangovers from Christmas dinners on this one, folks.
ORIGINAL STORY: In one of our previous articles, we went over a couple of Switch game listings that were published (and then hastily taken down) on the EB Games Australia's website.
Upon closer inspection of the screengrab, it seems that additions to what is potentially known as 'Mario Kart Switch' will be rather extensive, based on the box-art.
The new features seemingly include battle mode making its grand return (after its somewhat flawed iteration in the original Mario Kart 8), 24 more tracks (that's 6 new cups), and 10 new characters.
While we expect that one of the first new characters is going to be King Boo (based off of the Switch's reveal trailer), we've got no idea what the other new characters and tracks are going to be. Hopefully we'll hear more on January 12th.
What do you think of battle mode potentially making its return? Do you think that Smash Bros. could be receiving the same extensive treatment? Let us now in the comments.
Comments (97)
Have no intention to buy the same game again, even if it's a superior version with a new features. Wish there'll be a DLC for a Wii U owners. If not, the Wii U is already hacked so it's a matter of a time when a modders will port a new tracks to an old good MK8.
Looking forward for an actually new titles though.
Awesome if true!
If this turns out to be true, this one has the potential to be the best Mario Kart there is, hands down. 8 was great enough as it was, but fixing the Battle Mode alone makes the game near perfect. Can't say no to extra tracks and characters, either (although the likes of Pink Gold Peach don't amount to much).
Wouldn't the new tracks and characters include the Wii U DLC if this is true?
Hopefully that rumour about a trade-in incentive with retailers was true. I'd happily buy this again due to the extra features and battle mode, but I'm not sure I'd pay £49.99 for it (I'm looking at you, GAME).
I like the red box!
@BigBluePanda Not so sure they could push that as 'new', especially since it was packaged with some of the MK8 Wii U bundles.
@readyletsgo Yeah, harkens me back to the Wii NSMB release! I loves the way those coloured boxes disrupted my shelves
Battle Mode so needed to be fixed. It was one of a couple of features that held MK8 back from near perfection. That and no voice chat in race.
So taking into account that those tracks are most likely the DLC tracks which was 16 tracks total this means we're getting 2 new cups! YES! That + New Battle Mode and this'll undoubtedly be the best Mario Kart ever! I'm so excited!!!
Don't get people's hopes up about 6 New cups. 4 of those are likely the Wii U DLC
@Lilburrito
Thought the same, but that would be disappointing for people who already own the DLCs. Battle Mode will be great though!
So what was the point in the Wii U then?
@BensonUii MS > Sony
@manu0 OBJECTION!
Omg, please be a hark back to the arena battle mode. Day ONE if so!!!
Sounds awesome!... Ok somebody please talk to me about this, is the Switch going to get special editions of some game? Yaknow like steelbook/figure/statue/art cards/soundtracks/art book? ... I've been thinking this since Oct reveal!
Sounds too good to be true, but if there really are 6 new cups (And it's not just DLC) I will be so excited.
Also I hope this means Bowser Jr. and Diddy are finally playable!
Oh, GOSH !!
6 New Cups ?!
Let's see... I wish for Coconut Mall from Wii, Koopa Cape from Wii, Rosalina Ice World from 3DS, Wuhu Loop from 3DS, Mario Circuit 4 from SNES, etc.
Btw, 6 New cups... My predictions :
Blue Shell Cup, Acorn Cup, Boomerang Cup, Splatoon Cup, Shy Guy Cup, Switch Cup.
Hm... red box for Switch ? Oh, well...
I have to embrace the existence of Red color for Switch box. Some red boxes also founded on previous Nintendo game boxes.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Psst... how about 300 cc ? XD
@RainbowGazelle
Switch version = Remastered version from Wii U + New contents exclusively on Switch. Pretty big deal, especially new revamped previous tracks from older Mario Kart.
As someone who doesn't have a Wii U this is very exciting news and potentially a reason to buy the switch. It will all depend on how many good games come out over the next year or so while I save my pennies.
I don't suppose there will be a discount for people that own the Wii U version will there? At least not one for people who have the physical version.
@Anti-Matter Those names are a bit TOO random. I mean, naming cups after items and another after a specific enemy? Seriously?
And 200cc is insane enough thank you, we don't need any higher. What we do need is 50cc to be either removed or have better CPUs. It felt like a baby mode when I was playing the Grand Prixs again.
@Peace-Boy
But not all gamer can play racing games, especially newbies. 50cc is still ideal for newbies or play together.
About cup names, they are still my predictions. Better wait for full revealed from Nintendo.
I just played MK8.. it's a great game, but the unlockable characters some of them should be left out. Nintendo it's time you work on more games so you can have more choices while playing a Mario Kart game
IF this is true...
I gave up on MK8 a long time ago.
I'm not buying an updated version of a game that has bad competitive balance.
Liam Robertson made a post on twitter claiming that the image is just fan art. Indicators include a (partially?) reversed image and incorrect name among other things.
I wasn't interested in a Switch version of MK8 before now. However, it would be very tempting if that picture is true and it does actually contain 24 new tracks not in the Wii U version.
Watch 16 of the 24 tracks be the DLC for MK8.....
@Anti-Matter They should bring back practise mode from Super Curcuit for the noobs then.
I will get this version day 1 if it has Download Play.
FAKE! Nintendolife will believe anything.
@oji Nintendo wont do that. They want us to go buy the new console, new controllers and the game again.
2017 off to a good start hahah.
@Peace-Boy
Not everyone are so competitive in racing games. 50cc still ideal for 6+ years old kids, elder, casual gamers to enjoy not so speedy racing because they might be confused how to steering or drifting. Baby mode you say ? Who cares ? As long suitable for everyone.
If Switch does get MK8, and it has a proper battle mode, I'll definitely pick it up! Just wish I could trade in the Wii U version, which I downloaded.
What if the 10 new characters was 10 more colors for yoshi and shy guy LOL
LOL don't believe the rumours... it is really getting out of hand. At least this particular one was quickly proven wrong.
It was a "social experience" people, nothing to be upset about. Could happen to anyone. Were are all in the same jittery boat of Switch hype, its bound to happen frequently.
Keep in mind that nothing has been confirmed yet, people. The big reveal is less then 2 weeks away, so keep expectations and hype in check.
Of course it is always fun to talk about possible things to happen, though! This seems like a lot of new stuff, far more then I was expecting when MK showed up in the Switch reveal.
Here's a random crackpot theory I came up with that may or may not be true.
If something's been "leaked" about the Switch before the 12th, there's a good chance it's NOT REAL.
@Janus1986 @Shiryu @Mega_Yarn_Poochy We must be fun at parties :')
This was actually believed to be real? Might as well have been posted on April 1st...
We will probably get something like the fake on Switch, although 24 new tracks is a bit much... and I would probably even buy a straight MK8 port just for portability reasons... MK7 is not even in the same ballpark as 8.
What's funny, is that if Nintendo had somehow found a way to port MK8 to 3DS, people would have no issue re-buying it... but because Switch is marketed as a home console, no way?
This is a rumour that was faked and has been debunked already
I am pretty sure that modifying a company's website for the lulz requires more than a "haha April fool's in January y'all!" response. Hopefully EB/GS will take action. Also it is a new year; at least try to become a better person. 2017 goals and all that.
@Mega_Yarn_Poochy I'll go get your tinfoil hat Poochy....can't have you guessing the future now can we? Although if you have lottery numbers that would be awesome.
Seriously though, I really can't wait until the 12th. Not even for the NS (I already know I'm going to get it) but just so the attention deprived can shut up and sit down.
it's only a bit more than a week until the reveal of all reveals. this may be a fake, ut it does direct attention away from super mario run's performance. a good thing, imo.
10 more days to Switch presentation. Prepare our heart.
Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.
Way to lose credibility...
That'll teach you guys to get information from nobody other than Nintendo themselves.
If they can make 24 brand new tracks, I don't see why they couldn't just turn that into another Mario Kart instead including those in Mario Kart 8. Mario Kart 8 is already large enough as it is, a brand new Mario Kart with those 24 tracks and a better Battle Mode plus some awesome new online game mode would make this a must have no matter what. My point is leave Mario Kart 8 alone and keep the new Mario Kart new and original just like every other one for every platform.
This is getting embarrassing, NL. What happened to checking with other sources before posting rumours?
I wanted to see the Extro Trocks
Personally, in all my Mario Kart playing years I've barely used battle mode at all, so 8's lack of didn't bother me much.
Guess I really have no regrets of getting rid of my Wii U and games for it, as it seems everything is making it's way over to Switch or the PS4...Lego City Undercover, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon and probably Super Mario Maker, Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World, Yoshi's Wooly World and...oh wait, there wasn't anything else I fully enjoyed on the Wii U. It's a shame, I actually thought it had potential when it was launched, even purchasing it, but not even a year later, I was disappointed in my purchase and regretted it...still kept and played it for a few years, but...wasn't the greatest nintendo system...didn't even come close in my opinion.
Glad to see...if this is true...that people that did not purchase a Wii U will get to replay the good games off of the system...shame though that nintendo will probably charge the full $60 price tag again (and it will finally go down in price about 4 years later because nintendo wants all of the money). Really wish nintendo would start lowering prices more quickly and effectively. If a game isn't selling that much anymore, it's common business sense...Sony and Microsoft don't take too long to lower prices...Ratchet And Clank was a big hit on PS4 and about a year later...lowered...where Wii games still have yet to be lowered.
@retro_player_22
I'm sure Mario Kart 9 or whatever the substitle still in progress. If the rumors is true, 24 new tracks probably half Revamped Retro Tracks, half completely new tracks.
Awkward indeed. Counting your chicks before they hatch. Except they aren't even chicks. You have croc eggs instead.
@MegaMari0 Chickens? Crocs? What's the difference? They all end up in the fryer anyway
It's amazing how many people wanted this to be true, either to deride or praise it. Either way, I'd probably buy it for the portable factor. As one poster said earlier, if this were for 3DS more people would be okay with it, but since the fake was for Switch they were up in arms.
@TheLZdragon I'm sure they taste different after being cooked. ...right?
@SteamedSquid
Only one way to find out!
This may be fake but it's really got me thinking.
Thinking about why I still get my news from this site...
@Clownshoes
GET LOST FROM MY SIGHT !!!
Stupid hater !!
I DON'T NEED YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS !!
If this is true I'm not spending full price, wish Nintendo give us Wii U owners some sort of discount for the superior version on Switch
@FriedSquid It is quite sad isn't it? Thankfully I have found a few other sites that are much better. NintendoLife has been sinking down to about WiiUDaily and other rumour site levels for a while now...
I was gonna wait to get Switch I had decided not to rush and get one to just let it get released hold off and see if any bundles pop up or any extra incentives or deals emerge but with each passing week and each new piece of new info on the new system I want one more and more and I can now say the Nintendo switch I will be pre-ordering and picking one up day one .
Next week Thursday 🙂🙃🙂
@Link41x " NintendoLife has been sinking down to about WiiUDaily..."
Okay, that's a stretch. WiiUDaily is the Breitbart of gaming journalism.
Why do people do this?
Honestly, I just don't understand why people go out of their way to deceive others? Why would you make fake pictures? Do people not know deceit is wrong?
See, this is what happens when a site starts publishing every single rumour the writers read on the internet as FACT.
You now look like fools and have lost credibility.
@Ryu_Niiyama
They modified an EB page they had saved to their hard drive, there's nothing for EB or Game Stop to take action over.
I hope they price skyrim appropriately low... It was selling for $23 for the PC version from EBGames over Christmas... I'm not paying $80 just for a switch version no matter how much I want it.
@JaxonH I hear Dragon Theatrhythm is getting localized
...in my dreams anyway
@TheLZdragon
Ya I've wanted that one too. Best can hope for is a fan translation like DQM Terry's Wonderland 3D received.
I hear Captain Rainbow is getting a translation patch soon... finally. Been wanting to play that game for years
Honestly, I'm happy these are fake. If the BotW cover was really that boring, I would be really disappointed.
@gizmoto
He used a poor choice of words, it wasn't actually put on their website, it was put onto a copy of the websites switch page. There would be all sorts of criminal charges if he made a direct changes to their website.
I would love Nintendo too keep the red theme going with the red cart boxes .
Packaging looks dull, good ole Nintendo red. was hoping for something new and dynamic. a fresh look for a fresh console.
@shaneoh
He's actually correct, you can use the devtools/Firebug to change the content of any website, though these are just in your local session only, and are gone as soon as you hit that Refresh button. Working as a QA/security engineer, I'm doing this kind of stuff all the time.
Here's a comment you totally wrote 327 million years ago, right?

@Waninoko
Yeah that sounds familiar .
I trying to keep it simple, to say that there were no changes to the actual EB Games website that could cause any sort of legal action, however your pic there illustrates the point I was trying to make far better than I can articulate.
@shaneoh That wasn't clear in the article. Thank you for the clarification though.
lol 10 more characters...from where? They'd have to introduce Metal Luigi and Orange Gold Daisy...
I'm more interested in the box design tbh. I wonder if they'll be small boxes like the 3DS because it's cartridges? Maybe even smaller still. Will they be red as suggested by these (fake) images here?
@vitalemrecords What do you mean?
Well now it looks interesting to buy as i just hope the characters will be original and not just clones.
@JaxonH The strange thing is it doesn't need a translation. There's barely any text in it.
@TheLZdragon
That's what I was thinking. How hard can it be, really.
I hope Sprixie Princess, Honey Queen, and Dr. Mario could be 3 of the 10 characters confirmed!
@JaxonH Well localization is pretty complicated from what I understand. Then again, this is one case where I support region-free devices.
@Incarta and that's what I'm worried about: a lot of this "new stuff" is DLC from the Original Mario Kart 8.
@TheLZdragon But Nintendo's region-locking. Something I'm still puzzled about. I thought they all abandoned it.
@TheHatredDMC They used to be region free. The 3DS (and DSi games) was the only handheld to be region locked.
Gamexplain found dry bones on the map
@Tuulenpoika Double Dash or Riot. I want two player coop back. THEN it would be the greatest MK ever.
@Tuulenpoika To be the best Mario Kart, it needs "snowspeeder" mode, as in double dash.
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