Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to get 48 new tracks in massive expansion

One of the biggest missed opportunities by Nintendo in the eyes of fans was the fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did not get any DLC for the Switch – aside from the new content inherent to the Deluxe Edition. In a completely surprising move, 5 years after the Switch version, and almost 8 years after the Wii U release, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is set to see nearly 50 new tracks added to the game.

Nintendo recently hosted its first Direct for the year, announcing a large variety of games, updates and expansions. One of the biggest surprises was the reveal that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would be getting 48 new tracks.

These tracks – dubbed as being part of the ‘Booster Course Pass’ – will be released in 6 waves of DLC from the 18th of March up until the end of 2023, and will include remastered tracks from across the entire series.

While some fans may be disappointed at the fact that there are no entirely new tracks, some of the DLC will hail from the mobile-exclusive Mario Kart Tour, meaning that there will be some previously unseen tracks for those who have not played the mobile entry.

The first wave of DLC, which releases on the 18th of March, brings with it 8 tracks, 3 of which include:

• (Wii) Coconut Mall
• (N64)  Choco Mountain
• (Tour) Tokyo Blur

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is by far the best selling Switch game, and so while adding DLC to the title makes sense, the timing is unusual. Many fans have been calling for a Mario Kart 9 announcement, but with 8 Deluxe getting DLC until the end of 2023, it’s safe to say that Mario Kart 9 is years away.

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ‘Booster Course Pass’ is available to purchase for £22.49 or alternatively it will be free with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

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KitGuru says: Are you surprised by this announcement? Which track do you want to see return? What do you think this means for Mario Kart 9? Let us know down below.

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