Nintendo aren’t likely to bring Mario Kart 8 to a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) any time soon, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on slinging bananas and shells in VR. This is where Tokyo’s new VR Zone in Shinjuku comes in – the VR arcade is bringing a brand-new version of Mario Kart Arcade GP to HTC Vive for their guests.
Bandai Namco are developing the videogame, as they have done for the previous videogames in the franchise, Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, only this time players will assume the driver’s seat directly in VR.
The new title, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, will see players sitting in custom Mario Kart arcade seats, and throwing projectiles with their arms, thanks to motion sensors that can be strapped to player’s wrists.
Nintendo aren’t working on the title directly in any way, but Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is fully licensed – making it the only officially licensed Nintendo videogame in VR – if you forget about Nintendo’s ill-fated Virtual Boy, that is.
The game’s description reads; “The course is filled with the well-known Mario Kart traps and tricks. Dodge giant Piranha Plants and Thwomps, leap over huge ravines, and watch out for [Bowser] as he tries to get in your way…”
Few details are known about Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, but we can only hope it’ll be coming to an arcade near us soon.
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