Tris analyses the circumstances that could lead to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe receiving DLC.
[Script is posted below the video]Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U released with a fair amount of content, but not too long after it released, there were two DLC packs announced for it, as well as some free DLC resulting from a collaboration with Mercedes Benz. The two DLC packs each came with the same amount of content. Within each pack were four vehicles, 3 characters, and two whole grand prix. Buying both DLC packs also gave players access to different colored Shy Guys and Yoshis in the form of alternate costumes. Together, combined with the free Mercedes DLC, the original Mario Kart 8 received six characters, sixteen new costumes for existing characters, 11 vehicles, and 16 courses.
With the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the amount of content is expanded even further. The game launched with all of the content, both base and DLC, of the original game, as well as five new characters, five new costumes, a completely revamped battle mode with five modes, and eight battle tracks.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has already become the fastest selling game in the franchise thus far. Considering how the DLC content for the original Mario Kart 8 has been listed in the top 5 highest download sales for Nintendo in 2016, it is safe to say that the consumers really like Mario Kart 8. In fact, it’s easy to think that a large portion of people who own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would most likely purchase additional content for it as well. As Nintendo has, rather clearly, been taking a serious dive into the DLC market in recent years, it would be surprising for them to not create additional content for Mario Kart. Hyrule Warriors, a game for the Wii U, received a season of DLC. Later on, it received a 3DS port, Hyrule Warriors Legends, which, after adding all of the Wii U game, including its DLC, while also adding even more to the base game, also had its own dedicated season of DLC. Even games unexpected of extra content are receiving DLC, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Being the first major first-party multiplayer game for the Switch, DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would prove to be very beneficial to extend the longevity of the game later into the lifecycle of the console. This would also help keep the game “fresh and interesting” when compared to other first-party multiplayer releases, such as Splatoon 2 and ARMS.
While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe encapsulates all that made the original Mario Kart 8 great and even more, many believe that it stills lacks some content. It’s unlikely that Nintendo hasn’t heard the outcry for more new courses, or even a few more battle tracks, let alone characters and vehicles. So, if Mario Kart 8 Deluxe really does get DLC, what could make up that extra content?
I strongly believe that, due to the success of the DLC for the original game, that new content would follow the same format. This means that there would once again be two packs, releasing some months apart from each other. With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, one of the main selling-points of the game is its revamped Battle Mode, so it follows that this would reflect within its DLC. Similarly to the original set of DLC, each pack would contain four vehicles, three characters, and new courses. The difference, however, is that instead of two new cups, or eight courses, per pack, I believe that there would only be one new cup in each pack, making for eight total DLC courses instead of sixteen. I believe this change would be to also include two new battle tracks within each DLC pack, making for four more battle tracks total.
In summation, if DLC followed a similar structure to the original game, then we would receive a total of eight vehicles, six characters, eight courses, and four battle tracks. Additionally, like in the original game, I believe purchasing both packs would result in unlocking new costumes for existing characters, much like the Yoshi and Shy Guy recolors in the original game. With the success of the DLC for the previous version of the game, it’s not unlikely to believe that they would repeat the process of additional content. Of course, I have my own preferences and wishes for what could come from this type of DLC. You’ll be able to find those detailed on our SG Choice about Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC right here
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I hope so, if only to finally get Diddy Kong, though I wouldn’t mind seeing a few others as well (most prominently Birdo, Petey Piranha, Kamek, Professor E. Gadd, Toadsworth, and Nabbit).
I have made a video that there’s a chance that 3rd party characters might be DLC in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, because those are characters that fans would be in a rush to get & other companies would want in on the success, which is even more than Smash Bros.