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Lego announced it will offer an official Mario Kart Blue Shell kit, but the only way to get it is by becoming a Lego Insider and purchasing other sets. You need 2,500 Lego Insiders Points to buy it. If you scan a QR code in a set’s instruction manual, you get 20 points, and the official page for the program says purchases made through the official store earn you 6.5 points for every $1 spent there.

The Lego Mario Kart Blue Shell kit is a smaller one, as it only uses 234 bricks. Once fully built, it is 10cm (4in) tall and 10cm (4in) wide. This means it is about the right size to pair with the 22cm (8.5in) tall and 32cm (12.5in) long and Mario and standard kart set that is available for $169.99. (If that set would be purchased through Lego and you’re an Insider, that should earn you about 1,098 points.)

Here’s how it and the box for the set looks. Lego didn't show it alongside the Mario and standard kart set to provide a sense of scale:

Lego reminded us that if you buy the Mario Kart Blue Shell kit with Insider Points, you do need to actually redeem the code you get for that within 60 days. It will expire after that. Also, it will only offer them while supplies last, so it could be possible that it sells out if someone waits to claim one. 

The post Lego Mario Kart Blue Shell Kit Is a Lego Insiders Reward appeared first on Siliconera.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is releasing soon, and people are excited to get their hands on the next generation of Nintendo console. The company is still announcing games that will make up its 2025 lineup, including in the March Nintendo Direct, which includes both games for the original console, and the Switch 2. If you’re interested in which first-party games will launch on Nintendo Switch in 2025, we have everything you need to know.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD o6a

A remake of the 2010 Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns launched for the Nintendo Switch under the name Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on January 16. This is a reboot of the Donkey Kong Country series of side-scrolling platformers that originally launched on the SNES. You can read our full Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review here.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition 1y142g

A full remaster of the Wii U action RPG from 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launched for Nintendo Switch on March 20. This updated version includes new characters and story beats, as long as smaller changes to gameplay. You can find our full Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review here.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A 302822

Announced during Pokémon Day 2024, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the next game in the Legends subseries following Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It will feature a different battle system from both the mainline Pokémon games and Arceus, and will focus on catching Pokémon out in the wild. The game’s Royal Tournament was announced during the March Nintendo Direct. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is launching in late-2025, and is expected to be available on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 474r25

The long-awaited new entry in the Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is scheduled to launch in 2025. Metroid Prime 4 was first announced in 2017, but we didn’t see footage until 2024. The first-person action game will see the return of Samus Aran, and introduces psychic power to her arsenal. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is expected to launch late in the year, and be available for both Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.

Mario Kart World v5e19

Mario Kart World is a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. This latest mainline entry in the series will boast the most players at once with up to 24 players in the lobby. In addition, the game will feature an entire open-world map to explore. Players can pick select tracks to race on or even explore the various regions with friends.

Kirby Air Riders 5z5s2t

This looks to be a full-on remake or at least remaster of the original Nintendo GameCube racing game. Players will be able to race as Kirby and friends throughout gorgeous landscapes. Perhaps most surprisingly, Masahiro Sakurai himself will be returning to the helm as the director of this Switch 2 title. It will release sometime for Switch 2 in 2025.

Donkey Kong Bananza 6o4g2d

This open-world adventure from Nintendo appears to be a pseudo-successor to Donkey Kong 64. Players will be able to explore a vast world. There are mines, open areas, and plenty of enemies to fight in the Switch 2 game. Most of the adventure seems to take place from a 3D perspective. However, there are also the occasional, traditional 2D moments. It will release on July 17, 2025.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025, and a Nintendo Direct with more information on the console appeared on April 2, 2025.

The post All Switch 2 Games Published by Nintendo in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo and Lego announced that there is a new Lego Mario Kart set on the way, and it will cost $169.99. It will race into stores c, and it will be a worldwide release as both the US and European social media s showed it off. Pre-orders are already open via Lego’s official storefront.

Here’s the trailer that highlights how the kit will look from different angles:

This set will consist of 1,972 pieces. It is recommended for people ages 18 and up, due to its complexity. It can be displayed on its own or on a stand that we can build. It is also an articulated kit. Once finished, we can adjust the positioning of Mario’s head and arms. Once finished, it’ll be over eight inches tall and over a foot long. 

The official site also noted two promotional gifts. However, they do have expiration dates. You get a Pit Crew Toad set if you pre-order before March 11, 2025. The other gift is a Ferrari 499P Hypercar set, but that offer is only in effect until March 12, 2025. 

We’ve seen lots of Nintendo Lego sets over the years, including some Mario Kart ones. Some are based on consoles, like the Game Boy set. Of course, there are also the many sets based on the Animal Crossing series, which let you create your own village.

The Lego Mario Kart set will launch on May 15, 2025. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available on the Nintendo Switch now. A new Mario Kart game will appear on the Switch 2 console.

The post New Lego Mario Kart Set Costs $170 appeared first on Siliconera.

McDonald’s Japan is teasing its next line of Happy Meal toys, and it looks like the next collection will feature Mario Kart items. A teaser image was shared via the company’s X (formerly Twitter) official , and it features a character resembling Super Mario himself riding a kart from the back.

First, here is the McDonald’s Japan post teasing the Happy Meal Mario Kart toys:

As of writing this story, we don’t know what the toys will be and how many the collection will include. McDonald’s Japan didn’t offer any details on a release window either, and more information on the next Happy Meal toys will come in the future.

The latest news from McDonald’s Japan involves the infamous Grimace Shake finally releasing in the country on October 30, 2024. The Grimace Shake originally released in the US between June and July 2023 to celebrate the character’s birthday. Additionally, an Usada Pekora collaboration with McDonald’s Japan was also announced in mid-September 2024 and it featured a Tsukimi Egg Burger.

McDonald’s Japan is teasing its next Happy Meal toys and it appears that it will be a Mario Kart collection. More information on its release date and the toys themselves will appear in the future.

The post McDonald’s Japan Teasing Mario Kart Happy Meal Toys appeared first on Siliconera.

A new wave of course and character additions is speeding into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Wave 4 will add a new course based on Yoshi's Island and Birdo. Other courses and characters in the wave, if included, were not previewed. The pack launches in Spring 2023.

As mentioned, Super Mario Bros. 2 alumnus Birdo is being added to the list of playable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe characters. Birdo first appeared in a Mario Kart game as part of the roster for 2003's Mario Kart Double Dash on the GameCube. Birdo appears with multiple color variations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq49Xq_FG8Y

The new Yoshi's Island course evokes the look of Yoshi's Island, as seen in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. The track appears to hide some gimmicks, like the ability to hit a floating "?" cloud to create a new layer to the road hovering above the main drive.

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Wave 4 is part of the Booster Course Pack DLC, which will add a total of 48 new courses to the game. Players who are subscribed to the Nintendo Online + Expansion Pack hip can access all Booster Course DLC at no additional cost. However, the Booster Course DLC is also sold separately for those that would prefer a one-time purchase of $24.99 USD.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available on the Nintendo Switch, along with the first three waves of the Booster Course Pack DLC. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe recently re-cemented its status as the best-selling Switch game of all time, ing 52 million units in circulation.

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As part of the February 4, 2023 Pedro Pascal SNL episode, one trailer skit envisioned what a gritty, HBO show based on Mario Kart looked like. Pascal, who plays Joel in The Last of Us HBO adaptation, again played the lead role tasked with protecting a young woman in a post apocalyptic environment. Except for this "show," he was Mario and needed to drive Peach to Rainbow Road.

Here's the full SNL skit for the "HBO Mario Kart trailer. Pascal introduces himself with an “It’sa me, Mario.” Princess Peach ended up removed from her role when Bowser took over. “Mario” ends up taking her in a kart through the wasteland. Along the way, he stops at Luigi’s “haunted” mansion, they avoid a Goomba, and also work with Yoshi and Toad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiIRlg4Xr5w&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

This is the second week in a row SNL aired a video game skit. During the Michael B. Jordan episode on January 28, 2023, there was a Street Fighter 6 one. That involved him and cast member Bowen Yang recording lines for Ryu and Ken.

The most recent mainline Mario Kart game is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch. The Last of Us season one is now airing on HBO.

The post SNL Included an HBO Mario Kart ‘Trailer’ appeared first on Siliconera.

Renowned watch brand Tag Heuer has revealed two limited edition Mario Kart watches. Fittingly, they use the Formula 1 watch as a base. According to Tag Heuer’s website, the Formula 1 watches are a “motor-racing inspired collection for men and women who dare live life at full speed.” Well, that certainly describes all of the characters who appear in Mario Kart. [Thanks, Autoblog!]

The watches you can get for a limited time are the Formula 1 x Mario Kart Chronograph, or the Chronograph Tourbillon. The standard Chrono costs $4300 and the Tourbillon costs $25,000. This is because the Tourbillon uses grade 5 titanium whereas the Chrono uses steel. The Tourbillon will also have a more limited release. Whereas Tag Heuer will make 3000 units of the Chrono, it will only sell 250 units of the Tourbillon.

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So how do the watches actually look? Though some video game collaboration merchandise take the discrete route, Tag Heuer makes these very obviously Mario. The Chronograph bears the Mario Kart logo, and Mario appears on the 9 o’clock permanent seconds indicator. The Tourbillon has a bright red M, as well as the Mario Kart logo. Inside of the Tourbillon, Mario, Bullet Bob, and a blue shell are constantly moving. As well, you can see Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach’s silhouettes through the sapphire case window on the back of the Tourbillon.

The Mario Kart watches are not available yet, but ing for the Chronograph’s early access is open until October 17, 2022. Early access will then start on October 20. More information will appear in the future for the Tourbillon.

The post Tag Heuer Mario Kart Watch Costs Over $25,000 appeared first on Siliconera.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, the latest Nintendo Switch release, is another entry in the platform holder's efforts to experiment with what "play" can be. Developed by Velan Studios, a team founded by the minds behind Vicarious Visions, it also fits their long-crafted ethos of physical game interaction. When you realize that the people who brought you the Nintendo DS Guitar Grip and the people who made Labo are behind it, Mario Kart Live couldn't make more sense.

These elements are immediately on display. Home Circuit comes with one kart (Mario or, if you’re lucky, the much rarer Luigi), a small charging cable and a series of cardboard gates. To race, you must first set up a track. You place four gates and weigh them down with heavy objects, then drive through them with the kart to connect the in-game course. These cardboard elements feel well-engineered, much like Labo creations, as they both stand up and collapse really efficiently.

Controlling the real-life kart works way better than you'd expect. You may regularly find yourself driving under your own chair without noticing. While it can't do all the slick drifting action of a traditional Mario Kart release, you've never been more in control of a toy car than this. The kart is very light and quiet! This is nice for not disturbing other housemates, and leads to, yeah, driving by your feet and not taking notice.

So much of the fun of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit relies on how well you've constructed the track. Nintendo has marketed the game by showing lots of decorations and obstacles around the edge of the track, and that's not just for an exciting look. Since your "track" is only enforced by the four gates, creating more in-world track elements helps reinforce the dimensions of the track itself. It also helps with your visualization of where to go! Your in-game opponents — the Koopalings — have to follow the track as the tech has figured it out. You're limited by physics and physical space. When these two conflict, the game loses a lot of balance.

Do you really want to cheat and win all the time? You can set long, winding tracks going fully out of the way, then cut all the corners and get to the gates a lot faster. It does take a lot of the fun out of it, though. And the game doesn't like it that much! In of "balance," it seems like all Home Circuit has to offer is an abundance of weaponry. In one test, we got hit with three blue shells in one 20-second lap. (We still won, though.)

On the other hand, you can unintentionally put yourself at a disadvantage if you're not careful. Driving like you're playing Mario Kart doesn't apply when mapping out the course itself, since rarely do you try to stay in the exact center of the track when you do that. Straying too close to corners during setup will let opponents drive through walls you can't. It's tough to overcome, as well as visually disorienting.

Velan Studios implemented a lot of ways to make the same environments feel different. The "tracks" in the game's myriad cups add special visual filters and different gate functions to make races feel like they're underwater or in the jungle or whatever each course needs to be. This is more effective than you'd think! Whether gates have suspended piranha plants blocking part of the action or moving boost pads or item blocks can make the same ten feet of floor space feel like a different race.

You can use the custom track function to add these elements to your own creation as you unlock them, but the existing builds offer enough variety within the main Grand Prix mode. There are even engine classes and Mirror Mode! It feels like Velan wanted to really put its all into variety here, making players feel like the big price tag was worth all the hours of different tracks and items.

You can also customize your racer, to a degree. (At least digitally.) Since Home Circuit animates Mario on your screen and covers up the real kart when it does, it can make Mario wear a builder outfit or drive a cardboard kart. That's fun, to a degree. It doesn't affect gameplay, and we do wish we could put some creativity into the plastic thing careening around the room. (We also would love to be another character! They're never going to make a Koopa Troopa kart.)

As amazing as Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit can be, that experience is highly dependent on, well, your home circuit. First: the game benefits from space. While tracks don’t need to be too long, the more space you have, the more creative you can be in making new courses for yourself. That's definitely the primary appeal of the game, rather than the driving itself, and you'll play longer if that remains fun.

Second: surfaces are crucial. The ideal for Home Circuit is a smooth hardwood floor. It can handle some uneven tile and even very short carpet fairly well. Thick carpet makes the light kart bounce around as it moves, progressing slower than computer opponents and causing all sorts of detection problems with the shaky on-board camera. Rugs or inclines? Nah. The kart isn't powerful enough to manage those transitions without some real help. It could probably do these one-way, but since the game insists that tracks are a full loop, that isn't enough.

Besides those two main factors, you'll really need good lighting so the visualizations render well. You'll need strong wi-fi connections so your camera doesn't constantly cut out. And, well, you'd do well to bring an understanding that this is a toy. People who enjoyed Nintendo's Labo releases will probably find fun here too, as both are about the joy of building and enjoying physical interaction with games. There are elements like time trials here (mostly included to allow families to buy one set and still compete for times and play together that way), but gameplay mastery isn't the big draw here.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a magical, transformative experience under ideal conditions that works way better than you'd think. When you stray from those conditions even a little, though, it deteriorates rapidly. It's destined to provide dozens of hours of entertainment for some home-bound players and not last an evening with others. It's a big step forward for this weird blend of augmented reality tech, while also showing the limitations it has yet to overcome.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is available now for Nintendo Switch. Each version, the Mario Set and the Luigi set, sells for an MSRP of $99.99.

The post Review: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a Dash of Creativity appeared first on Siliconera.

Maricar has been ordered to pay Nintendo 50 million yen ($460,000) by the Japanese Intellectual Property High Court in the final judgement from earlier today. The original ruling of 10 million yen was made in September 2018 and increased by 500% in June 2019 upon appeal.

Maricar (which now operates as Mari Mobility Development Inc.) was ruled as infringing the intellectual property of Nintendo and using Nintendo characters to promote their street go-karting business and with the company’s name a play on the word “Marika”, which us often used as an abbreviated term for Mario Kart by fans in Japan. Further antagonisms included formerly referring to themselves as "Real-life Mario Kart", plus trademark applications for “Maricar Tour” and more recently “Unrelated to Nintendo”.

Mari Mobility Development President Yamazaki Yusuke responded to the ruling and stated that “It is truly regrettable that our company’s assertion was not recognized, and we will continue to deal with careful examinations of the contents.”

Nintendo sent out a press release, which has been translated for Siliconera by BlacKite.

About judgement from IP High Court (final judgement) regarding act of using our company’s intellectual property by a public road kart rental service

Regarding the appeal trial (Heisei 30 (Ne) No. 10081) of the lawsuit (Heisei 29 (Wa) No. 6293) filed on 24 February, 2017 by Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minami-ku, Kyoto; Representative director president: Furukawa Shuntaro; hereafter “our company”) against Maricar Inc. (Current name: Mari Mobility Development Inc.; Head office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; hereafter “defendant company”) and its representative director (hereafter collectively “defendants”), we hereby inform that the Intellectual Property High Court has today handed down a judgement (final judgement).

As already informed previously, in the interim judgement for this lawsuit handed down by the Intellectual Property High Court on 30 May 2019, the acts of the defendant company such as using displays like “Maricar” [in alphabet and katakana] for business and lending costumes of Mario and other characters are acknowledged as Unfair Competition Acts. In this judgement, based on the decision from the interim judgement, the defendants are ordered to pay 50 million yen for damage reparations (the full amount of money demanded by our company in this lawsuit as part of damages caused by said unfair competition acts), and the defendant company is also ordered to stop these unfair competition acts among others. In order to safeguard our company’s important intellectual property that we have built up with our effort for many years, our company will still continue to take necessary measures against infringement acts on intellectual properties including our company’s brands.

This Maricar judgement marks the third successful ruling in Nintendo’s favor as of late, considering the Wii Remote tracking technology overturning and the Nintendo eShop preorder cancellation case.

The post Maricar Ordered to Pay Nintendo $460,000 in Japan Over Its Maricar Go-Karts appeared first on Siliconera.

A new line of Mario Kart Hot Wheels toys have been announced. Mattel and Nintendo are showing them off at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con. These will be available in stores for $4.99 each in June 2019. (Thanks, Mashable!)

So far, eight characters have been revealed in this Mario Kart Hot Wheel line. People will be able to find Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Rosalina, Yoshi, Bowser and Wario. Tracks for the cars are also expected.

This is the second year in a row that Mario Kart-themed Hot Wheels toys have appeared at SDCC. At SDCC 2017, Mattel and Nintendo revealed the Hot Wheels AI Mario Kart line of toys. These are remote-controlled cars on smart tracks and are immediately available.

The San Diego Comic Con runs from July 19-22, 2018.

The post Mario Kart Hot Wheels Coming In June 2019 appeared first on Siliconera.

Eager to bring Nintendo fans to the 3DS, Nintendo's first party line up is packed with familiar franchises. Star Fox 64 will come out on September 9 in North America. Super Mario 3D Land will follow in November and Mario Kart 7 will race into stores this December. Kid Icarus: Uprising has a vague "holiday season" release window.

Here's Nintendo's first party 3DS lineup in pictures.

Star Fox 64 3D – Sept. 9

Super Mario 3D Land - November

Mario Kart 7 – December

Kid Icarus: Uprising - "holiday season"

The post Super Mario 3D Land Coming In November, Mario Kart 7 In December appeared first on Siliconera.

Mario Kart for Nintendo 3DS has a slot machine style reels where you pick a body, wheels, and glider before a race begins. Since Shigeru Miyamoto really liked the gliding feature, I decided to make a kart optimized for flying for my first run.

I disregarded Bowser's comfort and picked a small body with tiny wheels. A Nintendo rep said this would make my kart lighter and therefore better at gliding. As I raced around the track with Bowser, I noticed the kart I made was harder to control than the base kart. The tiny kart slid around the track and underwater sections were more difficult to drive on with small wheels. Bowser, just like other Mario Kart games, has high top speed, but low acceleration.

As long as I didn't hit anything, Bowser and his light kart could stay in the air longer. While you're flying you can still throw koopa shells at enemies (they lock on too!) or drop banana peels. Since karts don't have raccoon tails you can't fly freely in Mario Kart. You need to find a ramp to jump off of and some tracks are designed with hidden ramps. The Donkey Kong Country Returns track designed by Retro Studios has a narrow stone column you can use as a glider launch point. If you have enough speed, you can soar over a good portion of the track and land in front of the other racers. This fork could be a gamble because if you fall off the column or drive too slowly you won't have enough speed to fly far.

Since I made an teenie-weeine kart for Bowser, I thought it would be funny to create a monstrous kart for Toad. I picked the largest frame (a Jeep-like body) and monster truck tires. This kart had no problem in the underwater sections, so I experimented with new routes. One of the tracks went through a cave and if you fell off the sides you would have to drive underwater. Usually this would be a penalty of sorts, but since I made a car (I think) was designed for off-roading I dove straight into the water. My kart handled fine and I caught a speed boosting arrow right before leaving the water. I'm not quite sure if this saved me time, but it was neat to see that the map was designed with water loving drivers in mind. Seeing how tracks will be designed to make use of different kinds of karts might be the most intersting part of Mario Kart on the 3DS.

The post I Made An Off-Roader And A Glider With Mario Kart’s Kart Customization System appeared first on Siliconera.

Add Mario Kart to the list of Nintendo franchises Retro Studios had a hand in. The Texas team also worked with Samus when they created Metroid Prime and most recently completed Donkey Kong Country Returns. Retro Studios is helping Nintendo develop Mario Kart for Nintendo 3DS by deg some of the game's courses.

Mario Kart runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, Miyamoto lauded during a developer's conference at E3. I played a bit of Mario Kart today and the game's framerate felt fluid, even with the 3D depth slider at the max. If you played a Mario Kart game before you know what to expect, kart races with red koopa shells.

The main addition in Mario Kart is a hang glider attached to your kart. Before a race starts, players can customize their car by selecting a body, wheels, and a glider from three reels. After soaring off a ramp, the glider automatically pops out and allows players to steer their kart in mid-air. One of the courses I tried had rings made of coins to fly through.

Shigeru Miyamoto really liked this feature. During a developer's conference, Miyamoto said gliding was fun and jokingly called the Nintendo 3DS game Mario Kite.

Mario Kart is slated for release this holiday season on Nintendo 3DS.

The post Retro Studios Is Making Tracks For Mario Kart 3DS appeared first on Siliconera.

Takara Tomy made an actual Mario Kart toy. This is more than Mario in a remote control go kart. We’ve seen that before. The Choro Q Hybrid! Mario Kart Wii Vs. series has cars, a racetrack, and a system where you can use items during the race.

Classic items like mushrooms, Koopa shells, and banana peels are in the game. The controller has LEDs that let you know which of the five items you have.

- Mushroom – gives the driver a speed burst.
- Banana peel – attacks an opponent behind you.
- Koopa shell – attacks an opponent in front.
- Thunder – freezes your opponent.
- Star – protects the driver from an attack.

Items actually effect cars so you’ll see Mario zip along straightaways after chowing down on a mushroom. The Mario Kart Wii Vs. set has cars for Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, and Wario. Head over to Inside Game’s report from Toy Forum 2010 to see more photos of the vehicles and racetrack. The Choro Q Hybrid! Mario Kart Wii Vs. cars are scheduled to go on sale in June.

The post Mario Kart Remade With Miniature Race Cars appeared first on Siliconera.

The game that started the Mario Kart series will be available on Japan's Virtual Console next month. Since Nintendo plans to release Super Mario Kart in Japan it will probably come to North America too.

Final Fantasy II is also slated for the Virtual Console. Since it wasn't properly translated and released overseas until Final Fantasy Origins on the PsOne chances are we won't get the hit yourself to level up RPG.

Here's the full list of games for Japan in June 2009:

Famicom (500)
Detective Saburo Jinguuji: Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni
Final Fantasy II

Super Famicom (800)
Super Wagyan Land
Super Mario Kart

Virtual Console Arcade (800)
Altered Beast
Hopping Mappy
Golden Axe

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