First Mario Kart 8 DLC packs add Link and Animal Crossing characters, more courses and cups
The Nintendo UK webstore has perhaps let the cat out of the bag revealing what appears to be the first real downloadable content packs for Mario Kart 8.
The first pack is due in November and is dubbed ‘The Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8’. That’s right Link will be joining the crew as a playable racer as well as Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach. The pack also includes four new vehicles including Blue Falcon from F-Zero and 8 new courses spread over 2 cups.
A full of list of tracks hasn’t been revealed but from the screenshots we can spy at least an F-Zero themed course, an Excitebike one, an Animal Crossing (likely due in the second pack) one, an Skyward Sword one and Wario’s Goldmine from Mario Kart Wii is set to return.
The second pack isn’t out until May 2015 and is Animal Crossing themed. Yes you’ll be able to drive around Villager, Isabelle and even Dry Browser. This pack also comes with four new vehicles and 8 new courses but there isn’t as many details available for this one.
Nintendo also says as a bonus for pre-purchasing both packs (as a bundle or separately) you’ll be able to change both Yoshi and Shy Guy to eight-different colours when racing. You can pre-purchase the DLC from August 27th when the patch is released and the in-game shop is added to the main menu. You can also cancel your pre-purchase at anytime before the first pack drops in November by contacting Nintendo customer support.
Each add-on content pack costs $10.00AU or you could buy both of them for $16.00AU. That’s essentially another half of a Mario Kart title for $16.00AU and that’s how you do DLC.
[quote]Each Add On Content pack will contain two new cups, each with four courses, which, in total, increases the number of available courses by 50 percent. The Add On Content packs include classics like Wario’s Gold Mine from Mario Kart Wii, as well as new courses, some taking place in the worlds of The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. New vehicles will also arrive with each pack, including the Blue Falcon kart representing the F-Zero franchise in the first AOC pack.
The DLC packs are scheduled to include the following:
Pack 1: The Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8 (Release: November 2014) – AU$10.00 (NZ$14.00)
- 3 Characters: Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Link
- 4 Vehicles
- 8 Courses
Pack 2: Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8 (Release: May 2015) – AU$10.00 (NZ$14.00)
- 3 Characters: Villager, Isabelle, Dry Bowser
- 4 Vehicles
- 8 Courses
Pack 1 + 2 Bundle – AU$16.00 (NZ$20.00)
- 6 Characters: Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Link, Villager, Isabelle and Dry Bowser
- 8 Vehicles
- 16 Courses
As a bonus for purchasing both packs – as a bundle or separately – you can get eight different-coloured Yoshis and eight different-coloured Shy Guys that can be used right away.
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After we got the Mercedes-Benz DLC I really wasn’t enthusiastic about the prospects of more DLC, but… this is really cool.
Too bad the Villager is almost a year away!
That’s great news. I’d really hoped for extra courses – my son will be very excited to dive back in when this arrives.
Hate to be that guy, but im not into #Nintendo going the paid DLC route. Hurts the notion their that their games are packed with content.
I’m annoyed at the DLC direction, too, but at least this DLC is valuable.
Mario Kart 8 already had twice as many courses as Double Dash (though I haven’t played the Wii or DS ones so I can’t compare), and increasing the available content by 50% for less than 50% the price of a game?
It’s much better than paying 10% of a hundred-hour game’s retail price to get a one-to-three hour experience. IMO, the cost of DLC should be proportional to the content it provides. If I got X minutes out of the first game for Y amount of dollars, I’d feel better paying A amount of dollars for B amount of content if they are proportional- EG 10% of the game’s original price for another 10%’s worth of content, not 2%.
Probably why I hate buying DVDs. $50 for 13 episodes of an anime = $3.85 per twenty-two minute experience, while buying games can result in a better price-to-hour ratio.
MORE TRACKS! YAY! Im all in favour of more tracks, particularly if they are online playable. Still want a proper battle mode though.
HHHHNNNNNGGGGGGHHH!
After the Mercedes DLC (thankfully free…) I’m really glad to see Nintendo back track with this – I have no problem with paying for DLC if the value is there and this is a huge boost to an already great game.
I do wonder what will happen to the online community, where people won’t own certain tracks in online races…
Arghhh… New Cups are cool, but they completely gave up on the Battle courses!!
Still playing online and loving it, definitely have no problem paying extra for this. So happy they are going down this route.
Just bought the combo pack. Disappointed about the length of time between DLC packs but ill play both to death. Hope they have this kind of DLC planned for Smash Bros!
Gawd! $16! Cheaper than a CoD map pack! Nintendo, I am feeling the love!