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

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.

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