Nintendo announces Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit augmented reality game for Nintendo Switch

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit
Mario Kart Live Home Circuit (Image credit: Nintendo screenshot)

What you need to know

  • Nintendo has announced that Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit will be coming to Nintendo Switch.
  • This is an augmented reality game that allows players to drive a remote control Mario kart in their homes via the Nintendo Switch.
  • Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit releases on October 16, 2020.

During Nintendo's Mario Direct, which celebrates 35 years of the famous plumber's franchise, several Mario games were announced to be coming to the Switch console before Spring 2021. One of these games is Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, which uses augmented reality via a camera located on a remote control car and the Nintendo Switch console's screen.

Players can control a car that features Mario or Luigi around a physical space while viewing the race track, other racers, items, and powerups via the Nintendo Switch screen. There is a multiplayer mode, but players will need two karts, two Switch consoles, and two versions of the game for this to work.

In order to create this game, Nintendo partnered with Velan Studios, a game developer based in upstate New York. Here's what they have to say about the game:

Whether you are playing in your living room alone, or with your friends on their own karts, you can share the thrill of driving and exciting competition. We love the ability to seamlessly combine digital opponents and real world racing with your friends. It is a new take on local multiplayer.

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit (Image credit: Velan Studios)

Though Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is expected to release on October 16, 2020, launch dates are subject to change due to COVID-19.

Rebecca Spear
Gaming Editor

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.