WiiU Mario Kart 8 Release Date: Diddy Kong Boosts Popularity? Leak Verifies Game Characters

A leaked roster of playable characters in the upcoming game revealed that Diddy Kong will be included in the game, the International Business Times reports.

Will Diddy Kong's inclusion boost the game's popularity?

The highly anticipated game's release date has been confirmed for May 30.

Nintendo has released a list of features for the upcoming Mario Kart 8 release date, but voice chat functionalities were not included.

The company has been historically been apprehensive to incorporating this feature into its other titles.

Nintendo gamers who commonly criticize each sequel of Mario Kart for being too alike will be "wrong" about its upcoming release date version, GamesRadar.com opines, leaving many if Mario Kart 8 will have different characters and features.

"People who don't play Nintendo games commonly criticise each sequel for being exactly the same as all the previous games they didn't play either. Those people are wrong on multiple levels," the website writes.

"For example, every long-term Mario Kart player knows that each game is very different in personality, conceits and focus. Some are puristic racing games. Some are goofy automotive party extravaganzas. Some lie somewhere in between, and some are entirely different games again."

Nintendo has announced a Mario Kart 8 release date limited edition bundle that includes a special Spiny Shell collector's item with every copy.

Mario Kart 8 may also have a "possibility of turning the tide for Nintendo's not-quite-next-gen console" WiiU more than other titles, Complex.com opines.