We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
WiiU

Mario Kart 8 Announced for Wii U

by Tom Malina - June 11, 2013, 7:17 am EDT
Total comments: 4 Source: Nintendo Direct @E3

The series' latest instalment races onto Wii U next spring.

Update: Mario Kart 8 will also feature Mario Kart TV, which lets players submit videos from within the game to Miiverse. Other features include 12-player online play and smooth 60 frames-per-second gameplay.

Original: Mario Kart 8 has been announced for Wii U, with a tentative release date of spring 2014.

Unveiled during the Nintendo Direct E3 broadcast, this new Mario Kart introduces anti-gravity racing; this means that at certain points during races, players can take alternative routes through the tracks by driving on the walls and ceilings.

Returning elements include the motorbikes from Mario Kart Wii, as well as the gliding and underwater racing from Mario Kart 7 on 3DS.

Talkback

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)June 11, 2013

At last, my multiplayer experience on Wii U really begins. Mario Kart Wii got a ridiculous amount of play for several years, so I'm looking forward to getting the gang together and karting it up again. Yeah, at the end of the day, it's very familiar, but it still looks fun, and I'll take it over a simulation racer almost any day of the week.

Obviously, the whole hovercar/hoverbike mechanic is the main new hook for Mario Kart 8. I wonder how driving upside down and such will affect the overall feel of the racing. It's not totally clear in the trailer, although it was cool seeing karts racing on either side of a single vertical road.

Mop it upJune 11, 2013

This is the one thing shown that didn't make me pause. The anti-gravity thing looks really neat, and a great way to expand track designs. Sleep-deprived as I am, I first thought they were just showing goofy sideways and upside-down camera angles... and then it hit me that they were driving on the walls.

There's still more I need to see, but for now, game looks great.

RazorkidJune 11, 2013

This is gonna be an exciting entry in the series for me purely based off the potential for Miiverse integration and the active online community.  Looking forward to more info and I have no doubt that this will be a solid game with long legs but I'm a little disappointed that there wasn't anything more game changing shown besides the track design.

WahJuly 24, 2013

Just so glad that Waluigi is BACK! Seriously why did they replace him with F%$# honey queen! :@
More people hated her then any other chacrter! plus she's the size of a planet( well there's Nintendo logic for you!) I also hope they keep custom karts but i doubt it, and a remake of waluigi Stadium! ;D

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement