The next ‘Mario Kart’ game for Nintendo Switch turns your living space into a race track

The next version of Nintendo’s popular Mario Kart series will turn your home into a race course.

On the 35th anniversary of the release of the first Super Mario Bros. video game, Nintendo announced Thursday the game “Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit,” a “mixed reality” game combining a physical go-kart with a virtual track.

Players use a real-world Mario Kart toy car with an augmented reality camera that is steered using a Nintendo Switch. It also features gate markers to map out a course within your living space.

Once the course is built, players then start their race through the Nintendo Switch console.

“We invented the initial mixed reality hardware and game prototype to really nail the exhilaration of racing in the real world with the play and feel of a video game,” said Karthik Bala, CEO of Velan Studios, in a statement. “We showed the experience to Nintendo and were thrilled they saw its potential.”

The game with physical vehicle launches October 16. Players can choose to play as either Mario or Luigi.

Mario Kart has consistently been among Nintendo’s top-selling titles for its platforms. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is currently the best-selling game on Switch, with sales nearing 27 million as of June 30.

The announcement of a new Mario Kart was one of several made Thursday as Nintendo honored the launch of the first Super Mario Bros. game in 1985. Among them:

• A limited release of Super Mario 3-D All-Stars, which packages Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy.
• A Game & Watch system featuring the original Super Mario Bros.
• A battle royale style game called Super Mario Bros. 35, where 35 players all play the same level to see who can survive as the last player standing.