Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
News, coverage and analysis tracking Mario Kart 8 Deluxe across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Opinion: Mario Kart World Deserves Its Flowers, So Let's Stop Comparing It To MK8 Deluxe
This opinion piece argues that Mario Kart World deserves more recognition and should not be constantly compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The author highlights World's unique blend of calm exploration and chaotic racing, its innovative open-world design, and its deep mechanics that offer a different, more challenging experience than its predecessor. The article suggests World is a defining game for the Switch 2, offering a refreshing take on the series.
Predictions for a potential June 2026 Nintendo Direct
Speculation is high for a Nintendo Direct in June 2026, following a period of infrequent announcements. Rumors suggest potential remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Kirby: Planet Robobot, alongside new content for Pikmin 4 and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Third-party titles like Minecraft and Monster Hunter Wilds are also rumored for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Hands On: "We Want It To Feel Like A Fighting Game" - Super Yooka-Laylee Kart Offers More Depth Than You Think
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart aims to capture the spirit of the original Super Mario Kart while incorporating modern features inspired by fighting games. Playtonic is focusing on skill-based gameplay with mechanics like a rage meter and input-based special moves, alongside rollback netcode for online play. The game will be available on PC, with a Nintendo Switch release highly anticipated.
Famitsu software sales (5/25/26 – 5/31/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its weekly Japanese software sales data for the period of May 25-31. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch topped the charts, followed by 007 First Light and Pokemon Pokopia on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 respectively. The data includes sales figures for the top 30 best-selling games across various platforms.
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart Leaked by Steam DB Listing
A SteamDB listing has seemingly leaked 'Super Yooka-Laylee Kart', revealing character art and suggesting a kart racing genre. This follows recent social media teases from the developers. The game's exact approach to the genre remains unknown, but comparisons are drawn to established titles like Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing.
UK Charts: 007 First Light Leaves The Competition Shaken
007 First Light debuted at number one on the UK physical sales charts, pushing LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight to second place. Several other titles saw significant movement, with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream falling out of the top 40 entirely.
Product Placement Can Help Save The AAA Games Business, Former BioWare Dev Says
Former BioWare veteran Mark Darrah suggests that product placement could be a viable solution for the financial sustainability of AAA game development, arguing that an over-reliance on live-service models and microtransactions is limiting. He points to existing examples in games and other media, and questions why it isn't a larger part of the gaming industry's revenue streams. Darrah also expressed concerns about the impact of subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass on game design.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – May 30, 2026 – Mina the Hollower, Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5, LumenTale all debut
The latest Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of May 30, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream remaining at #1. New releases Mina the Hollower, Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5, and LumenTale: Memories of Trey all debuted in the top rankings.
Famitsu software sales (5/18/26 – 5/24/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its weekly Japanese software sales data for the period of May 18-24. Nintendo Switch titles dominated the charts, with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream leading sales. Several new releases, including Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition, appeared in the top rankings.
Red Dead Redemption 2 beats Wii Sports to become third best-selling game ever
Red Dead Redemption 2 has become the third best-selling video game of all time, surpassing Wii Sports and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with over 85 million units sold. This surge in sales occurred during Take-Two Interactive's latest fiscal year, driven by strong performance and potential upcoming current-gen updates for the title. CEO Strauss Zelnick highlighted the resilience of Rockstar's titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – May 23, 2026 – Tomodachi Life is unbeatable
The Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of May 23, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream retaining the top spot. New releases like Rune Dice and Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection also appeared on the download-only list. The article provides a comprehensive ranking of the top 30 games and download-only titles.
Red Dead Redemption 2 now overtaken Wii Sports in best-selling game list
Red Dead Redemption 2 has surpassed Wii Sports to become the third best-selling video game of all time, with 85 million copies sold compared to Wii Sports' 83 million. Rockstar Games' title has experienced a significant surge in sales over the past year, exceeding its sales in any 12-month period since its 2018 launch.
Famitsu software sales (5/11/26 – 5/17/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its Japanese software sales data for the week of May 11-17, 2026. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch topped the charts with over 98,000 units sold. Several Nintendo Switch 2 titles also appeared in the top 30, including Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World.
UK software sales chart for the week ending May 16, 2026 – Tomodachi Life at #1, Indiana Jones gets Nintendo Switch 2 bump
The UK software sales chart for the week ending May 16, 2026, sees Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream return to the number one spot. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle re-entered the top 40 at second place following the release of its Nintendo Switch 2 version.
UK Charts: Indiana Jones Commences His Great Circular Crusade On Switch 2
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle debuted at number 2 on the UK physical sales charts for the Nintendo Switch 2, with 99% of sales on that platform. Despite a strong launch, it was outsold by Nintendo's Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. The strong performance of Indiana Jones on the Switch 2 suggests high demand for major ports on the upcoming console.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – May 16, 2026 – Tomodachi Life on a strong run
The Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of May 16, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream retaining the top spot. Several other popular titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also feature prominently in the all-games list, while download-only games like Pokemon FireRed and Nine Sols are highlighted.
Is Nintendo Switch Online worth it in 2026? Our verdict
This analysis evaluates the value of Nintendo Switch Online in 2026, considering its evolution since its 2018 launch. While initial online play faced criticism, the service now offers a robust library of retro games from NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and more, alongside features like cloud saves and free DLC for Expansion Pack members. Despite some drawbacks like limited drip-feeding of new retro titles and certain game exclusions from cloud save functionality, the subscription is deemed a worthwhile investment due to its expanded benefits and competitive pricing, especially with family plans.
Famitsu software sales (4/27/26 – 5/10/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released Japanese video game sales data for the weeks of April 27 - May 3 and May 4 - May 10. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Pokemon Pokopia were the top-selling titles on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 respectively. The data includes sales figures for a variety of games across multiple platforms.
Nintendo Faced a Bomb Threat in Japan
Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, received a bomb threat, leading to the arrest of a 27-year-old unemployed man for obstructing business. The suspect admitted to sending a letter claiming bombs were planted, though no suspicious objects were found. This incident follows a series of 39 threat messages received by Nintendo in late 2023, which caused the cancellation of Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo and postponements of Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tournaments.
Nintendo Won't Focus On Making Switch 2 Games Exclusively, Switch 1 Remains Important
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the company will not exclusively focus on Nintendo Switch 2 games, emphasizing the continued importance of supporting the original Nintendo Switch. This strategy aims to expand the overall software business across both platforms, rather than solely prioritizing the new console's titles. Furukawa also discussed sales forecasts and the impact of bundled software on reported figures.
