The first Nintendo Direct of the year was held on February 8, featuring a multitude of announcements and news of different games, both for new and existing titles, across its 40-minute broadcast. The event held some pleasant surprises for viewers, including a first look at Wave 4 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC.
First, the Japanese company revealed some details of what the unreleased Yoshi's Island track will look like, and also the addition of a new character, Birdo. Both will arrive in the racing game in the spring of this year. It won't be the last time the roster will be expanded, because Nintendo has confirmed that there will be more DLC characters for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe New Additions To Its Roster Is A Surprise
The Nintendo Switch's best-selling game is in the middle of its expansion pass, which will double the size of the game with 48 extra tracks, available as paid DLC or included in Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. During the event broadcast, a small trailer was shown with a brand new track, based on the classic SNES game Yoshi's Island, full of references to the game, and with a surprise guest: Birdo. She's a new character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but she was already in other installments, such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as Yoshi's partner.
The announcement came as a surprise, because initially Nintendo said that tracks would be the focus of the DLC. Nevertheless, it has already announced the return of Birdo, who won't be alone. In the official statement about the latest Nintendo Direct, the developer indicates that other characters from the Mario Kart series will also return in future releases. It is not specified which ones, nor how many, although it would stand to reason if Nintendo added one more for each wave of DLC. If this constant is maintained, at least two more drivers will be added to the game with Waves 5 and 6.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe New Characters
This opens the door to the return of characters of the Mario Kart saga inexplicably forgotten in Mario Kart 8 and its Deluxe version on Switch, such as Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, and ROB. The same is true for Mario Kart Tour exclusives such as Pauline or Dixie Kong. Since the new characters for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are going to be reinvited from previous games in the franchise, the list of candidates can be narrowed down quite a bit.
Other possible candidates to join the Booster Course Pass could include Petey Piranha, who hasn't been in a console Mario Kart since Double Dash!!; if a generic Piranha Plant can be in Super Smash Bros. Utimate, Petey can be in another mainline Mario Kart. Monty Mole, who made his debut in Mario Kart Tour in 2020, could make the cut, and an appearance from Kamek could make amends for him being cut from the roster of Mario Kart 64 more than 25 years ago.
Based on the trailer presented during the Nintendo Direct, the new Yoshi's Island track will feature a version of the Athletic theme from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Although only this circuit has been announced for the Booster Course Pass, there will be seven new ones as usual. In addition, there will be two more DLC over the rest of the year, sating the hunger for a Mario Kart 9 that has yet to emerge despite industry rumors.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available now for Nintendo Switch.