The Switch version of Mario Kart 8 at last has a name, shown off in a trailer released just after this evening’s Switch presentation: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
As the name might imply, the game appears to be the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 with some additions, namely in the realm of new characters, courses, a revamped Battle Mode, items and more.
New Battle Mode, returning past characters and courses
The trailer begins on a new Battle Mode course, with Bowser Jr. clearly visible as a playable character in a Koopa Clown Car. It then moves on to show another new character, Dry Bones, before King Boo arrives on the scene in a Battle Mode course pulled from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: Luigi’s Mansion.
New items
Mario is then shown using a Feather item, last seen in SNES’s Super Mario Kart, allowing him to jump high above the course and over other opponents. Bowser Jr. is then shown on yet another new Battle Mode course using a Boo item, not seen since Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
Splatoon crossover
Splatoon music then begins playing and a Splatoon-themed Battle Mode course is shown. Both male and female Inklings are playable racers, even shown with weapons in their hands during stunts. The Inklings are also shown in variety of color options.
DLC from Wii U version
Several characters and tracks — including Link, Isabelle, Hyrule Circuit, Animal Crossing and more — from the Wii U DLC are also shown off.
The trailer ends with the game’s logo, while its description reveals the game’s launch date: April 28th, 2017.
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Written by Daniel Dell-Cornejo
Daniel is an editor at Nintendo Wire. Always with his head in the clouds, he is never apart from his creative thoughts – a blessing for an aspiring fiction writer. As a journalist and lifelong gamer, he aims to provide readers with the very best in Nintendo coverage.
