No, Mario Karters. What you see in the image above for this update is NOT a Mod or a troll. This image is the REAL DEAL!
I'm sure by now, you all have watched the first Nintendo Direct of 2023 on February 8th.
Well, just as I assumed, we got some news on the next wave of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass - Wave 4, the first wave for the second half of the DLC during 2023.
We didn't get much else other than what we got from the following trailer in the link below, but in my eyes, we've got more than we expected... in the best way.
After we got our first look into Mario Kart Tour's newest track - Pirahna Plant Cove...
...we got our first look into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's newest track - Yoshi's Island, a "new" track (which'll likely later come to Mario Kart Tour) based on the series of the same name & the Yoshi franchise as a whole.
But for the first time ever, we finally get started with additions that we've all been clammoring for... CHARACTERS!
Yes, Mario Karters! You heard me right. For the first time since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's launch in 2017 AND the Breath of the Wild update in 2018, we are actually going to get characters added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!
The first of such additions will be Birdo, whose Mario Kart debut was in Mario Kart: Double Dash! and was previously seen as an unplayable character cameo seen in N64 Royal Raceway since the Original Mario Kart 8, and later had another unplayable cameo in Tour Sydney Sprint. But now that Birdo will be playable, we won't have to worry about those cameos anymore.
On top of that, like Yoshi & Shy Guy, Birdo will also have alternate colors to choose, as also shown in the image above.
This opens up the door to something bigger... Will we be seeing more characters get added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe like Birdo is being added into the game? I certainly hope so!
In fact, according to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Press Release for the Nintendo Direct, we WILL be getting more characters than just Birdo. And I quote...
"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 4: Yoshi’s Island, a new course, is zooming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC. Birdo, who originally hit the track in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, is also being added. Returning characters from the Mario Kart series will be added in future waves. Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC races onto the Nintendo Switch system this spring. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass includes six separate waves, with eight courses each, which will all be released by the end of 2023. Buy the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass separately in Nintendo eShop or enjoy it for no additional cost as part of a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack*** membership."
And I also hope we get to see more vehicles, wheels, gliders, power ups, and other content get added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as well.
As a matter of fact, just because Birdo will be added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and just because the door of possibility that more characters may get added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe...
...that does NOT mean that our mission &, in turn, my petition is finished.
Birdo may be getting added into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but there are still more characters that might as well be added into the game as well, like Diddy Kong, Petey Pirahna, and most of all: Pauline, among many other characters.
Not to mention that other content like vehicles, wheels, gliders, power ups, ans more would also make awesome additions to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
So I've said it multiple times before, and I'll say it again.
Even with new characters like Birdo confirmed to be coming into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe starting from Wave 4 of the Booster Course Pass and onwards, we still need to continue spreading our desires to everyone in any way we can that Nintendo needs to implement more content into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, especially...
A.) More Characters like Pauline, Kamek, Birdo, Petey Pirahna, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Funky Kong, Hammer Bro, etc.
B.) More Vehicles like the Wild Wing, Super Pipe Frame (Hint: Cubical Engine, Dual-Exhausts), Royale, Flame Flyer, Streamliner, Blue 7, B-Dasher Mk. II, Banana Master, Comet Tail, Carrot Kart, etc.
C.) More Wheels & Gliders.
D.) More Items like the Mega Mushroom, Ice Flower, Tanooki Leaf, Fake Item Box, etc.
And E.) Additional Content such as Character Alts, a Mirrored 200cc mode, Vehicle Paints, More Battle Maps, "Mission Mode", etc.
ESPECIALLY as a means to preserve the majority (if not all) of the aforementioned content from Mario Kart Tour into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, in case Mario Kart Tour ever discontinues.
That means we keep spreading the word to everyone we can, and we keep sharing & signing petitions sharing our desires like these.
- https://www.change.org/p/more-dlc-racers-and-vehicles-for-mario-kart-8-deluxe
- https://www.change.org/p/more-characters-in-mario-kart-8-deluxe
As I've mentioned in my update in December of 2022, if anything else comes up, like when the remaining 3 waves of the Booster Course Pass being announced and/or released, I'll be sure to give you all updates & continue spreading the word on our desires.
And if you'd like to read what I think to how Nintendo can implement more characters, vehicles, wheels, gliders, items, & other content into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, such as via a 2nd DLC Pass, unlockables in a "Mission Mode" and/or In-Game shop, or some other methods to implement said content into MK8DX, feel free to visit the prior update linked below.
- https://www.change.org/p/more-dlc-racers-and-vehicles-for-mario-kart-8-deluxe/u/31155048
Most of all, for any potential Character, Vehicle, Wheel, Glider, & other piece of content in Mario Kart Tour that could be implemented into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, click the next link below to look through them.
https://www.mariowiki.com/Gallery:Mario_Kart_Tour_sprites_and_models
And that's not even to mention that thr vehicles we saw in the trailers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie would make awesome content to add into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as a way to promote thr movie.
As I've said before & will say again, just like last year in 2022, let's continue the race into 2023 & keep going with letting everyone & especially Nintendo hear our desires for Nintendo to give Mario Kart 8 Deluxe more characters, more vehicles, more gliders, more wheels, more items, and any additional content they can think of like character alts., a Mirrored 200cc mode, & more; and, in turn, preserve said content from Mario Kart Tour into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Once Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets said content, which it rightfully needs, we'll be happy to truly & officially declare that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" of the Mario Kart series.
In the meantime, Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, featuring the Yoshi's Island course & new character - Birdo, is slated to be updated into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe during Spring 2023. So while we're waiting, be sure to keep your eyes wide open if anymore news for Wave 4 comes along. Who knows, maybe we'll get more characters & other additional content than just Birdo.
With all that said, good luck everyone, keep on racing, & LET'S-A GO! XD