What’s New in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Everything You Need to Know

Characters and Vehicles

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may seem like just a standard port to the Switch from the Wii U, but there’s actually far more content in it than first meets the eye. Most noticeable is the inclusion of a handful of new characters. On top of the roster of 30 that featured in Mario Kart 8, ranging from Mario to Lakitu, Deluxe adds in an additional four racers to the mix. Splatoon Boy and Girl enter the fray for the first time, while King Boo and Dry Bones make their returns after missing the Wii U outing. Oh, and the six additional racers added into the original Mario Kart 8 via the DLC packs such as Tanooki Mario, Link, and Animal Crossing’s Villager are also back for more racing action in Deluxe.

On top of this, fans will be pleased to know that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also throws in some new karts to make use of, too. Unfortunately, not too many details are known on these new vehicles just yet, but it has been confirmed that two of the three additions are inspired by the Splatoon series.

The Complete Set of Tracks

It should come as no surprise to many players that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience when it releases in April. That means that alongside the new characters, and additional vehicles, Deluxe will also include all of Mario Kart 8’s 48 tracks that both shipped with the game and released via the two DLC packs.

That means you’ll have 12 different Grand Prix’s to take part in right from the get go which should keep players busy for plenty of time if you’re making your way through the different CC categories, too. Of course, some players may be a little disappointed to find that there are no new tracks included in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but that’s not to say that Nintendo couldn’t do that at a later date via DLC. While nothing has been confirmed on that front as of yet, it’s certainly possible, especially after the success of Mario Kart 8’s two DLC packs.

Battle Mode Revamp

One of the biggest complaints surrounding Mario Kart 8 when it released on the Wii U back in 2014 was its poor Battle Mode. Rather than having specifically-designed levels for players to battle it out in Balloon Battle or Bob-omb Blast, players were left to explore the standard racing tracks in search of their targets. Unfortunately, because of the large sprawling nature of some tracks, Battle Mode definitely felt like the weakest part of Mario Kart 8.

Nintendo has opted to revamp Battle Mode for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Currently, four maps have been confirmed exclusively for use with Battle Mode, two new, one of which takes inspiration from Splatoon, and classics such as the GameCube’s Luigi’s Mansion, and the SNES’ Battle Course 1.

Items

There hasn’t been a whole bunch of changes made to the items in a player’s arsenal as they zip around the different tracks in Deluxe, but that doesn’t mean it’s the exact same list from vanilla Mario Kart 8. Two items from the series’ past will be returning in Deluxe, though only one will be available in the standard racing mode. Players will be able to swipe items from other racers with the help of the Boo item, returning from Mario Kart 64. The other addition comes in the form of the Feather, allowing users to leap into the air.

This item is only available in Battle Mode, though, so you won’t be using any new-found jumping abilities to reach any secret shortcuts in standard races. Most notably on the items front, however, is the number of items that a player can hold at any one time. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ups the item limit to two. Their order cannot be changed, however, so you’ll need to think tactically when working out how and when to use them.

Other Improvements

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also features a number of smaller additional features to really enhance the experience for both newcomers and long-term players alike. First, when docked and in TV mode, the Switch will display the game in 1080p visuals at 60 fps. This is a first for the series and is sure to look great with all of the vibrantly-colored worlds. When using the Switch when it’s undocked, players will get a 720p 60 fps experience, meaning you’ll get the very best-looking handheld Mario Kart to release to date.

In order to ease newcomers and younger players into the action, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also features a Smart Steering option. This will help players to stay on the track and navigate each one more easily, though at this moment in time, details on how this will work remain unclear.

Finally, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be playable with both the traditional control method via the Pro controller or attaching the Joy-Con together in the grip, or the motion controllers can be turned on their side and used as mini motion controllers for steering. Perfect for multiplayer sessions on the go.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe won’t be available on the Switch’s March 3 release date, instead releasing on April 28 exclusively on the console.