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 live at midnight local time in Japan]
Original Article: We're not sure why, but Nintendo has an odd insistence on not confirming release times for digital versions of games and DLC. On most occasions games land at midnight local time, but sometimes they don't, so we have to resort to checking our Switch late at night and crossing our weary fingers.
That's been the case with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, with Wave 1 landing on 18th March at some point. GoNintendo has spotted an actual confirmed time via Reddit, however, which was found on the Australian product page.
According to that page it'll arrive at 10am AEDT on 18th March, making it a fun morning down under. In terms of how that time converts to other territories, that's midnight CET on 18th March, which is 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern / 11pm UK today (17th March).
The fact it's evidently not a midnight launch everywhere (in which Australia would have its usual headstart) and that MK8 Deluxe has server maintenance today (at 1pm UK time for an hour), does suggest these could be the roll-out times. That said, the Nintendo of America store page still says it's out on 18th March, so it could go either way.
If you're in Australia, though, now you know!
[source ec.nintendo.com, via gonintendo.com, old.reddit.com]
Comments 32
It'll probably be the same time globally (which is usually the case anyway) or at the very least in Europe. Wouldn't be 10am if it was just a Australia-specific release time.
Can't say I'm planning to get up and play it first thing in the morning in any case but I'll likely jump on for a bit in the evening. Been forever since I've played the game.
I wish more updates in general would give out a time. I understand why, I guess, but it still annoys me how I can't plan a head for such a thing.
You have got to love Time Zones!
I'd imagine it'll go live the same time everywhere. Saves the confusion of the tracks being available via online multiplayer until your region says you can now play it offline.
It’s a shame it’s not releasing at midnight, I was planning to play it before I headed to work. Oh well, it’ll be waiting for me in the evening!
Looking forward to it!
All I want to know is whether the booster pack tracks will have anti-gravity sections. Not too bothered if they don't, but still wondering if they will add them.
10am Australian Eastern is the time Smash characters usually release, so yeah. I'd say it's global. Also means this really DOES replace the Smash DLC talks and reveals in Directs and events.
@Kiz3000 They new tracks arent available online til March 22nd anyway
So it might be available tonight in Europe (offline).
It’s fine either way. It’s 8 old Mario Kart courses, I’m not going to be staying up until midnight to play them. It’s cool, but it’s not earth-shattering.
@mariomaster96 I wasn't aware of that. That's a bummer.
@mariomaster96
Where do you have this info from?
@MichaelP The official store page states following:
"Starting March 22, 2022, courses included in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will appear in the online course selection for Worldwide and Regional races"
MK8 is the only MK I've ever played so I'm very excited to try these courses. They're all new to me XD
I still haven't finished the existing content... but I'm excited to try the new courses. About half way through 150cc.
We'll be playing these courses for YEARS, I don't need to try them out in the first few hours.
More MK8D is good whenever
Promised myself I would wait til next week. Throwing a party just for the occasion. A bit of classic Mario Kart: Drink Driving
And though it may sound
confusing
Sometimes I wish they’d
give it to me straight
But I never feel like I'm
losing, losing
When I take the time to
translate
Here's what I'm talking
"bout
Bow chicka bow wow
That's what Nintendo says
Mow mow mow
And my heart starts
pumping
Chicka chicka choo wop
Just waiting for Mario kart wave one is it any good video at this rate I have to make my own mind up
I’m too lazy to look up what time that is but for you guys who are American
EST: 7pm
CST: 6pm
Pacific: 5pm
Version 2.0 is now live.
And annoyingly, even if you haven’t purchased the pass, the game will now constantly remind you of that fact.
@Franklin They're not live yet, read the update on the article.
@Laserbeak1982
I read and commented on the new article.
@Franklin You need to hang on a little longer. 8 and a half hours to be precise. I'll be on as soon as it goes live but it seems like we won't be able to play them online till the 22nd.
It feels good to be excited about Mario Kart again.
Is that 11pm today or tomorrow? If it's tomorrow, WTF.
@Fizza Today! 😊
Gonna be great! Bring it on!
I bought my pass through the Japanese eshop and it went live about an hour ago. I just played through everything and my favourite course has gotta be Ninja Hideaway because of all the alternate routes. It sure is nice to play some different tracks with the MK8 engine after all of these years.
Ohhh late night Karting for me before Bed! What a treat
Oh, I get it. The reason why the DLC is live at different times in regions (rather than the same time adjusted by time zones) is because Smash kept killing the eshop whenever a new fighter launched.
Timezones sure do exist
@EmoGamer I got my online points over 5000 a while back, didn't play for six months or so, came back a few weeks ago and have trouble finishing above eighth. There have to be cheaters, I USED to be pretty good and now I'm awful.
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