Link, Isabelle and Animal Crossing Villager all get ready to race!

Two new downloadable add-on content packs will take the world of Mario Kart 8 for Wii U in directions the series has never seen before, while significantly expanding gameplay options. The packs, available by the end of November 2014 and end of May 2015 respectively, are available for pre-purchase now at £7.00 each (or £11.00 for both), and deliver an array of new content, including first-time crossover characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda series and both Isabelle and the Villager from the Animal Crossing series.

In addition to these two new add-on content packs, a previously announced game update goes live today that adds a variety of new features, including three free Mercedes-Benz cars that players can race: the modern Mercedes-Benz GLA, the 300 SL Roadster from the 1950s and the legendary Silver Arrow of the 1930s. As well as game updates, mariokart.tv, the Mario Kart TV web service optimised for smart devices, has also been updated to give  users more in-depth game data whilst on the go, including the ability to check at any given time whether friends are playing Mario Kart 8 online.

Each AOC pack will contain two new cups, each with four courses, which, in total, increases the number of available courses by 50 percent. The AOC 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.

Mario Kart 8 owners who purchase both packs will get access to eight new colours of Yoshi and eight new colours of Shy Guy to race with immediately. To purchase the packs prior to release, users with a broadband Internet connection can click the new ‘Shop’ icon in the game or visit Nintendo eShop on Wii U.

The AOC packs are scheduled to include the following contents:

Pack 1: The Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8 (Release: November 2014) – £7.00

• 3 Characters: Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Link
• 4 Vehicles
• 8 Courses

Pack 2: Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8 (Release: May 2015) -£7.00

• 3 Characters: Villager, Isabelle, Dry Bowser
• 4 Vehicles
• 8 Courses

Pack 1 + 2 Bundle – £11.00

• 6 Characters: Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Link, Villager, Isabelle and Dry Bowser
• 8 Vehicles
• 6 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.