Sure, Mario Kart Tour is coming to mobile devices later this year, but right now, we're still technically playing the same Mario Kart game we were on the Wii U five years ago. Yep, on 30th May 2014, Mario Kart 8 was released in North America and Europe on a Nintendo system that was at the time struggling to appeal to the masses.
The particular entry set itself apart from previous outings in the Mario Kart series with an all-new anti-gravity feature. The DLC was also a first for the series, adding in free Mercedes-Benz karts and two paid DLC packs later down the line – featuring more characters, vehicles and tracks. The 200cc was an added bonus. All of this paid off in the long-run, with Mario Kart 8 becoming the Wii U's best-selling title and shifting more than eight million copies worldwide.
This followed with Nintendo releasing an enhanced version, titled Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on the Switch in 2017. The main selling point this time around was the inclusion of a classic battle mode, which was oddly missing from the original version of the game. Since the arrival of Deluxe, we've received a number of unique updates such as Link's bike from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and even Nintendo Labo compatibility. This Switch release has also become a critical and commercial success, selling more than sixteen million copies globally to make it the hybrid platform's best-selling title.
Celebrate Mario Kart 8's fifth anniversary in the comments and tell us if you're ready for a completely new entry in the series.
Comments (106)
Let’s hope for Mario Kart 9! Or at least Labo VR support for Deluxe...
I’d rather have mk 8 updated with additional dlc tracks.
I'd really like a new game or at the very least, additional tracks. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe grew old for me pretty quickly after already spending so much time on the Wii U game (not like I had much else to play on Wii U). Ready for some fresh content.
I knew F Zero wasnt going to have a wiiu release when the zero gravity mechanic was introduced. I originally thought it was a stupid gimmick, it kinda is, but doesnt interrupt the flow of gameplay. Gotta hand it to the devs for making the best installment thus far
@Luigi_Skywalker Ditto. The formula for 8 was already good imo. More tracks and characters would be nice.
Thougg if they have a new gimmick they want to add then I'm all for a new game.
Thanks to this game having some of the best Online Connectivity out of all the Nintendo games, I'll be for sure playing for many more years to come.
My kids and I played it tonight. Still a lot of fun.
My favorite Mario Kart game overall. With that said though, I'm ready for a new console installment!
What are you talking about? Mario Kart 8's only 2 years old!
New tracks are good enough for me.
@RyanSilberman So Wii U never existed?
Maybe MK 9 will be a surprise announcement at E3.
Nintendo: "We give you Mario Kart Maker - make your own tracks, so stop bothering us for more tracks."
We really don't need a new entry. But I would love some new DLC. Let's get some new tracks and racers.
What they could do is release a stand alone game in stores with the DLC, and sell the DLC separate to those of us who already have MK8.
@Luigi_Skywalker I would be okay with new DLC tracks, but really we need a new entry. If we just keep getting a couple new circuits here and there we won't get as much content as a new entry would provide. I'm fine if they use the current engine, I just want a lot more content including new and remastered tracks as well as a few battle maps (please Nintendo give us Block Fort). Personally I've been saying that this (Mario Kart) is the surprise fan favorite game coming to E3 that was mentioned back in an investor meeting earlier this year. The Switch deserves more than just Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
I'd rather have Pikmin and Advance Wars on Switch. More tracks for MK8 would be cool though. It would be fun to have all the old SNES tracks remade for MK8, along with N64 and GBA tracks!
@Heavyarms55 If we get DLC it would likely be another maybe two cups, whereas a new entry would likely provide eight and some new battle courses. I love Mario Kart 8 but personally I think the Switch needs a new entry. If we just get DLC I can almost promise that this will be the first Nintendo console to skip having it's own unique Mario Kart game. At that point they might as well just move on to the Switch 2 that we know is likely coming in a year or two. And at that point it would hopefully be a launch title.
@BensonUii If that were the case I would say it won't be coming to the Switch but to the Switch's successor.
My favorite part of MK8 was the Animal Crossing track.
a big DLC with lots of new tracks and characters will be enough for me
@PBandSmelly I agree that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best iteration so far, largely because it was so great on the Wii U. It would be nice to see a F-Zero installment at some point, though it doesn't sound like Miyamoto will likely be heading the project. It would be nice to see Nintendo contract out Shin'en Multimedia or even Sega to work on it.
As far as Mario Kart 8, I see so much of it in Team Sonic Racing from it's anti-gravity tracks to suits of armor swinging weapons in it's haunted course, etc, etc. Team Sonic Racing is great but it seems to borrow a lot of it's best design elements from MK8.
@RyanSilberman Here's the rest of the list of great Switch original games
-Bayonetta 2
-Captain Toad Treasure Tracker
-Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze
-Hyrule Warriors
-Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
-Lego City Undercover
-New Super Mario Bros U
-Pokken Tournament
-Rayman Legends
-Runbow
-Scribblenauts Unlimited
-Scribblenauts Unmasked
@Nico07 Why only 2 cups? They did more last time. They could easily make a significant expansion to MK8 without having to build a new game. And a MK9 on Switch would have to be significantly different because 8 is already on the system. Switch has a Mario Kart and it doesn't need another one. Just some DLC 4 cups, maybe another 4-8 racers and perhaps a couple new items.
Furthermore, releasing MK9 on Switch would divide the player base and force a lot of people to buy MK9 who already have MK8 on the system and might want to buy a different game, rather than another Mario Kart on the same device.
Bet we don’t get Mario Kart 9. 9 is unlucky in Japan because how it’s pronounced or something, so I bet we get MK10 because there were 2 8’s. I think Microsoft branded Windows like this with Vista because of this reason, and Apple with the iPhone.
@MrGawain You're thinking for 4, not 9. 4 can be pronounced as "shi" which means "death" and is considered unlucky.
@Luigi_Skywalker dude. Exactly. If not a new game then dlc for 4 new cups with 16 new tracks. We’d pay for that dlc!!!
Very young game. The Switch is quite young too
I’m ready for Mario Kart 9
Clearly, the next logical step is Super Smash Kart. Do it, Ninty!
I'm happy with what we've got in mk8 although I'd welcome DLC, rabbids in their nintendo form would be cool. There's so many other ips to go out on switch I don't see the point in developing another kart just yet
I would love DLC for MK8D, it's so good! It's a great game!
But if they do make MK9.... I hope they bring back most of not all characters back (from MK8 and even older entries, everyone is here fashion) and maybe add more nintendo characters (Kirby, Captian Falcon, Fox, etc). Hopefully Pauline becomes a racer, rabbids, costumes for all characters, color varients, kart customization, VR, Pacman, Tomogotchi (from the arcade versions),
So many things! Hopeful to see what's next
@Luigi_Skywalker I fully agree! Why mess with a winning formula? I would happily pay a hefty price tag for a hefty DLC pack.
Come on Nintendo, make it happen at E3!
Five years old and still full price.
it is still a great game, right now we don't need a new game for it, DLC would be great tho
@johncalmc
Based on the sales figures it was a smart choice keeping it full price. I actually can't imagine the sales would be much higher at a budget price and Ninty would have lost out on hundreds of millions in revenue...
@Indominus_B I don't think we'll see MK9 before the end of the Switch lifespan.
I do think we could see some additional DLC cups.
Mario Kart 8 DX is nearly perfect (I only dislike that I can't see the time trail times of my friends). Nintendo should rather give other franchises a chance.
I wonder how they can improve on the formula after 8?
@Kirbster1992
Support for the Labo Vehicle Kit would also be nice (maybe even nicer).
And still cost 50-60 euros
I'm ready for a new entry too, hopefully the next one is more wacky and in your face once again as Mario Kart used to be.
My big problem with MK8 was how weak as easy to avoid most stage hazards were, and overall stage design just being kind of generic.
We definitely need a new one, I have played Mario Kart 8 to death. Want some brand new tracks.
I feel old. I played the hell out of that game, almost surpassing my Mario Maker play time
Someone mentioned it already, but a track maker would be great!
They could honestly just add new tracks and characters as DLC rather than making a whole game but wouldn't complain with a MK9.
No more 8 DLC - 8/DX has a decent list of things to fix. Smaller battle arenas, horizontal splitscreen, remove mid-air hits (Tour suffers this big time), 12->8 racers, Item rebalance, livening up the art, etc.
I was always very confused as to why they didn't do more DLC, they could have easily kept drip feeding a cup or two every year. Don't get me wrong I still play MK8 Deluxe on a weekly basis because it's that damn good, but I would happily have paid out for another handful of extra cups as the Egg and Triforce cups we're both excellent.
Mario Kart Ultimate anyone?
If they go back to a double dash style game I am ok with 9. Otherwise dlc for 8 is good enough.
More tracks and characters is all I need.
I have suspected all along that there would be a MK9 on Switch but as long as MK8D keeps selling there’s little point. Save it for the launch of their next system or a big Switch iteration.
Didn’t get Deluxe as I spent so much time on 8 on the Wii U. Would definitely like Mario Kart 9 now, although if more dlc tracks were announced I’d pick up Deluxe in a flash
I doubt we will get a new Mario Kart anytime soon. Once the Switch sales peak, maybe by next year, then Nintendo will consider a Mario Kart for the next console. While the Switch is selling there are plenty of new gamers to buy this Mario Kart.
The only losers are the fans that have played the existing game to death. Maybe a couple of new tracks will released in an attempt to keep fans happy, but at a silly price. At least we have Team Sonic and Crash to fill the gap.
While the game play is very tight and well designed Mario Kart is also very clinical. The Karts and characters are seperate from the background. We need more interaction between the background and characters.
I'm sure you'll get a new entry in the series soon enough, and certainly another one on Switch (presuming the Switch has at least another 3 years of life left in it before Nintendo moves onto the next generation).
Id rather they wait for a new console before releasing a new Mario Kart. Deluxe is still a great game with a wealth of content. A new console with extra cpu and gpu grunt would enable them to make meaningful upgrades to the design in terms of level complexity, racer artificial intelligence and overall image quality as opposed to more of the same.
Much as I love Mario Kart, I'm fine with waiting for a new one until the next console after the Switch. That way, it ensures that next console will get a new entry very early in its life cycle and will give them more time to develop it. And hopefully prevent the need for unnecessary filler characters like Pink Gold Peach. Ugh.
No, if you ask me, they should be giving us a new F-Zero right now. I played a little GX the other day and it just left me baffled how they still refuse to make a new entry in this series already. It's so silly. Really hoping for one to release on Switch. I'll even accept GX HD Online if that is what it takes. Just.. give us a new one Nintendo, please!
I agree the real losers are the fans that bought mario kart 8 and it’s great dlc for the Wii u and then switch
You know what's 16 years-old at this point? F-Zero GX. If there's anything that needs a new title, its F-Zero. Will we get it? No, but one can always dream.
I wonder if Nintendo will even bother with MK9 on Switch. 8 Deluxe is still selling gangbusters.
@BenAV sorry but your so badly misteken... out of all the older system the WiiU had some of the best games Bayonetta 1&2 were on there Zombie U, Axiom Verge, NES remix games arre good, Splatoon, Super Smash Bros., NintendoLand, Super Mario Maker, Should i go on cause i could..
Mario kart 9 now with way more stuff please
Although I would love MK9 I doubt we'll see it on Switch. Could be a launch game for the Switch 2 in 2022 though.
I would like more DLC instead of a new game. Nothing wrong with mario kart 8.
let's hope we get DLC maybe at E3
MK8 port is currently a top 10 title. It makes no business sense to release a new one right now. The port cost Nintendo very little and they charged more than the WiiU version. It sucks for somebody who played the title 5 years ago and wants a new one.
yes more mario kart please!
@Almighty-Koz I'm not mistaken, I just have a different opinion to you. It was a Mario Kart, Splatoon and Mario Maker machine for me. I had other games as well obviously (including some you mentioned) but none particularly memorable. I don't regret getting a Wii U at launch as I got more than my money's worth out of those three games but overall it's easily my least favourite Nintendo system. Didn't have any single player games that I really love.
Make it happen please Nintendo
There is no need.
MK8 Deluxe is one of the best selling Switch game, month after month.
The price just does not go down for used copies, so there still some really high demand.
I had it on Wii U and on Switch is just perfect.
Nintendo knows this and won´t invest any resources to topple the highest selling game for a successor.
Around 2021 at the earliest.
Nintendo are clever. By not releasing new or more frequent games, it creates a false desire for the existing games.
They also green light the crappiest low budget games to increase the perceived value and quality of their own software.
Might as well buy mk8, the rest of this crap on the eshop is giving me cancer.
How old are Wave Race Blue Storm and F-Zero GX though?
Would it be mean to suggest that they released MK8 3 years before the hardware to play it on? That would probably be mean.
I'm in no rush to see a new Mario Kart. I would rather Nintendo focus on their other IPs for a little while.
@BlueOcean: A new Wave Race would be awesome.
@MrGawain: I heard that Microsoft actually did.
@Everyone_Else: I'm with most here, dlc for 8, or just for 8dx would be good enough.
@Kirbster1992 MK9 for E3 2019!
5 down, only 5 more to go! Or whenever the next system actually comes out, if they make another system. Live by port-begging, die by port-begging.
As long as Mario Kart 8 continues to sell like gangbusters, I don't think we'll be seeing a Mario Kart 9 on Switch. There's no business reason for them to essentially kill the golden goose while it's still laying eggs. That said, we could do with some fresh content. I would definitely support some DLC with new tracks.
Edit: Has any Nintendo console ever received more than one iteration of Mario Kart? I can't think of one off-hand.
@Kirbster1992 this would be the first good use for vr on switch (besides Labo) Turning your head around while racing would be nice!
@johncalmc typica Nintendo. Nintendo is a very expensive hardware to have. They hardly have discounts only when it goes classic (a horrible box) then it will be half the price. But 75% still same price as at release. Nintendo is indeed a very kid friendly hardware... haha
@AlphaElite no, no previous Nintendo system has had more than one (unless you count VC). What I suspect, and it's a guess, but an educated one, and game droughts are showing this. HD games take a lot to develop. You can see how long it's taking to make next games in the series from Sony and Microsoft, as well. Nintendo knows this after the incredible game droughts the Wii U suffered, so I'll bet their Mario Kart team has been making mobile as the 9th in the series, with the 8 being the port, because it's more likely new DLC will fill in the gaps until the next one releases- which may not even be on Switch, just due to the length of development time. Sure, Mario Kart is small compared to Zelda, but it's likely that another Mario Kart won't get released on Switch, especially when considering that by the time it would Switch may be 6 or 7, maybe even 8 years old by then- it's already in its 3rd year now!
Mario Kart Ultimate is the way to go. Every track ever, sign me up.
I would love to see another double dash game. I would be totally fine with updates to 8 deluxe though featuring new tracks, characters, etc. I would also love to see the coins as a weapon item gone, it's highly unnecessary! We already get coins around the track, we don't need them stealing the spot of a weapon. I think special weapons for each character would be awesome also, like it was in double dash. I miss the huge bowser shells, giant bananas, etc.
Mario Kart 8 DX sold more than 7 million copies from March 31st 2018 to March 31st 2019. It has sold more than MK7 at around same point in its life, I doubt we're going to see a new MK until the launch or after the launch of Nintendo's next console.
@XO-Frats agreed. Adding a full slate of 4-6 cups would add to all the existing tracks, that way you can play what you want without switching games. Unless they did like smash ultimate, and made a Mario Kart with every track and racer from every previous installment. That would be excellent.
Deluxe already has enough content, I say no more DLC - but revamp the series with new mechanics (or old- double dash I’m looking at you!) - less characters and less karts. There are way too many filler characters in this game, and I think most of the karts are kinda stupid to be honest.
Breathe some new life into it and drop it in 2020! Or yes! F Zero 2020! MK hold off and launch with next system!
@AlphaElite Every Nintendo console and handheld since the SNES has had it's own release of a Mario Kart title (Virtual Boy excluded because it wasn't around long enough). And that said each has only received one release. It just seems like the success of the Switch is in large measure of the games that released originally on Wii U. It's a shame that the Switch only received a (good) port of the Wii U release in 1080p with battle courses that should have been on the Wii U to begin with. If MK9 doesn't come out as a surprise E3 title, I'm calling that Switch won't get it's own unique game and MK9 will end up a Switch 2 game. It's a shame as the current Mario Kart 8 engine would allow for some great new and retro courses just using it in a new game. The team that makes Mario Kart made ARMS for Switch and supported that for a very short time, I would say they have to have been working on the next game since then.
24 Million is a pretty impressive number. But I don't see much motivation at this time to release a new game when MK8 is still a regular top 10 charting title. Most switch sales will also pick up a copy of mk in the first few weeks. It's like the Nintendo GTA V. I expect they will let it run for some time yet
@MrBlacky It already supports the Vehicle Kit
24 new circuit DLC will do please. I'll pay £20 for that.
I'd be happy with a new Mario Kart, but with the karting games already on the Switch, what I'd really love is a new Excite racing game. I think Excite Bots was one of the best games on the Wii. I think most people ignored it because it doesn't have recognizable Nintendo characters, but honestly, I think it smoked Mario Kart.
My body is ready for Mario Kart 9!!
Happy (late) birthday MK8!
@KingBowser86 Call me whatever you like but hitting a friend with a red shell while they are gliding in air is one of the great pleasures for me. It’s punishment for not protecting your rear with a shell or banana peel.
@Kirbster1992
It does??? 😮 I totally missed that.
@NotTelevision That's just strategy and competitive play on your part. It's the nonsense where it interrupts flight and penalizes the player more than a standard hit (sometimes way more) that's a balancing/track design issue.
Unless they revamp the game a la Double Dash, I don't see how they could improve it other than improve online features (LOLOLOL NINTENDO IMPROVE ONLINE). They need to add more content like tracks. Also #NukeBlueShell
@Nico07 Not true. Game Boy Color didn't get one.
If Nintendo can make a lot of money doing no work, they will go that route. I also think the team has been busy with the mobile game.
Since there's already a Mario Kart game on the Switch it's time for Nintendo All-Stars Kart.
@Trajan If you want to consider the GameBoy Color a mobile platform then yes it didn't get it's own Mario Kart. I consider it an extension of the GameBoy with a short lived library. Nintendo themselves only developed FOUR titles for the GameBoy Color (Super Mario Bros Deluxe, Wario Land II, Links Awakening DX, and Tetris DX).
I reckon Nintendo will likely come out with MK9 a year or two before the end of the Switch's lifespan. That way they can do the 'deluxe' treatment all over again on the next console. Nintendo knows how to flog a dead horse.
@Nico07 Was quite shocked when I read that - FOUR titles, wow.
I still play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but must admit I get bored of it much quicker than Splatoon, I'd like a new Mario Kart for Switch but not sure what they could do differently this time. For now I'll try Team Sonic Racing and CTR.
The only reason I stopped playing it is because Nintendo charges for online now.
If an MK9 had a story mode, or a sense of progression (i.e. a proper one-player version), I'd be all over it. MK8 had no challenge/reward for a soloist, and I gave up after a couple of hours.
No more DLCs. Time to move on to 9. I really doubt we'll hear something this E3..or this year by that matter (I hope I am wrong!) but I hope that we get a fresh new entry for 2020.
The best game on 2 systems. 3 one the switch U is released.
Everyone who got the game (including myself ) only got it because it’s MARIO kart of course you got it it’s Mario Kart. Double dash and wii did something cool and new. Not even is MK8D just a port it’s just standard stuff two times in a row not okay Nintendo. Also the name MK10 just sounds amazing
The game is now 8 years old, and as of today, is getting 48 more tracks on the Switch version. Who would’ve predicted that?
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