Zelda, F-Zero, and Animal Crossing Content Coming to Mario Kart 8 [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Nintendo provided additional details for this Mario Kart update, which will be coming to the US as well.

Each DLC pack will cost $7.99 individually or $12.99 if you buy them together. And you'll be able to pre-order both packs starting tonight with v 2.0 update to the game.

If you pre-purchase both backs, you'll have immediate access to both the multi-colored Yoshis and Shy Guys. Though if you want to wait for any reason, the additional color options for those characters will unlock after you purchase the second pack.

A few of the new tracks you might notice from the images below are:

• F-Zero track
• Excitebike track
• Animal Crossing track
• Wario's Wood track

We don't have details for the tracks and karts not revealed by the images below, but Nintendo stated that this DLC will not include additional items, abilities, or multiplayer modes.

The original story appears below.

Mario Kart 8 is getting some substantial downloadable content starting in November. New characters, tracks, and karts will be added to the game featuring content from many of Nintendo's other franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, F-Zero, and Animal Crossing.

This content will come in the form of two DLC packs, which will include:

• 3 new characters
• 4 new vehicles
• 8 new courses (some new, and some old)

Some of the new tracks will be set in Zelda and Animal Crossing locales, while Mario Kart Wii level Wario's Gold Mine makes a return.

The first of the two packs--The Legend of Zelda pack, coming this November--will include Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach as characters. The DLC will also include the Blue Falcon from F-Zero as a drivable kart as well as three additional unrevealed karts.

The second pack--the Animal Crossing pack, coming in May 2015--includes the Villager, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser. Nintendo did not reveal karts for this second pack. By buying both packs, which will be available individually for 7.00 GBP or in a bundle, you'll also get eight different colors for Yoshi and eight different colors for Shy Guy.

Details on the packs were posted to the Nintendo UK online store here and here earlier today. An image for the Zelda pack appears to show Excitebike and F-Zero levels, while the other pack shows off a new, Animal Crossing-themed stage.

We'll update this story with more details as they're available, but which of this content are you most excited to try? Are you happy to see Mario Kart supported with such extensive DLC? Let us know in the comments below.

PS4 More Powerful Than Xbox One, But Microsoft Always Improving -- Metro Dev

The PlayStation 4 is more powerful than the Xbox One, but it might not be this way forever, according to Metro Redux developer 4A Games chief technical officer Oles Shishkovstov. As part of a wide-ranging interview with Digital Foundry's Richard Ledbetter, he asked Shishkovstov to sum up what he thinks the technical differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are

"PS4 is just a bit more powerful," Shiskovstov said, after Ledbetter pointed out that the Xbox One has a lower compute unit count and memory bandwidth, and has also faced ESRAM issues. In a lot of cases, too, multiplatform titles run at a higher resolution on PS4 compared to Xbox One.

"You forgot to mention the ROP count, it's important too," Shishkovstov said. "And let's not forget that both CPU and GPU share bandwidth to DRAM [on both consoles]. I've seen a lot of cases while profiling Xbox One when the GPU could perform fast enough but only when the CPU is basically idle. Unfortunately I've even seen the other way round, when the CPU does perform as expected but only under idle GPU, even if it (the CPU) is supposed to get prioritised memory access. That is why Microsoft's decision to boost the clocks just before the launch was a sensible thing to do with the design set in stone."

Shishkovstov went on to say, however, that counting pixel output might not be the best way to accurately measure the differences between the PS4 and Xbox One. "There are plenty of other (and more important factors) that affect image quality besides resolution. We may push 40 percent more pixels per frame on PS4, but it's not 40 percent better as a result...your own eyes can tell you that," he said.

Also in the interview, Shishkovstov says the Xbox One's ESRAM itself is not a particularly painful thing, but rather "the small amount of it."

"Yes it is true, that the maximum theoretical bandwidth--which is somewhat comparable to PS4--can be rarely achieved (usually with simultaneous read and write, like FP16-blending) but in practice I've seen only a few cases where it becomes a limiting factor," he said.

But just because the PS4 is the most powerful new console around right now, it doesn't mean it will necessarily be this way forever. Shishkovstov says that Microsoft is constantly improving tools for developers.

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really," he said. "Each [Xbox Development Kit] that has been released both before and after the Xbox One launch has brought faster and faster draw-calls to the table. They added tons of features just to work around limitations of the DX11 API model. They even made a DX12/GNM style do-it-yourself API available--although we didn't ship with it on Redux due to time constraints."

Regarding the Xbox One's DX11 API, Shishkovstov says he doesn't understand why Microsoft went down that path. "I don't really get why they chose DX11 as a starting point for the console," he said. "It's a console! Why care about some legacy stuff at all?"

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really" -- Shishkovstov

Finally, Shishkovstov addressed the June Xbox One developer update that promised to boost GPU power by letting developers use graphics resources previously dedicated to Kinect and apps. It was previously believed that as much as 10 percent of the Xbox One's graphics power was reserved for Kinect and apps, but this might not be true, Shishkovstov says.

"The issue is slightly more complicated--it is not like 'here, take that ten percent of performance we've stolen before', actually it is variable, like sometimes you can use 1.5 percent more, and sometimes seven percent and so on," he said. "We could possibly have aimed for a higher res [for Metro Redux on Xbox One], but we went for a 100 percent stable, vsync-locked frame rate this time That is not to say we could not have done more with more time, and per my earlier answer, the XDK and system software continues to improve every month."

Metro Redux is available today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's review and what other critics are saying.

The Last of Us gets 2 free Factions maps on PS3, PS4

Naughty Dog will release two multiplayer maps for The Last of Us for free as it works to reduce matchmaking times forThe Last of Us Remastered.

Many Remastered players have found their multiplayer sessions delayed or inaccessible due to matchmaking problems, which have affected the game since its release in late July. Previous updates have aimed to reduce the problem, but Naughty Dog says more work remains.

"We know this can be frustrating and the team here at Naughty Dog wants everyone in our community to know that working on this issue continues to be our number one priority," Naughty Dog community strategist Arne Meyer said in a community update.

"Over the last two weeks, we've discovered that the most significant improvements may come from working with other teams at PlayStation to make updates to some of the existing matchmaking libraries," Meyer said. "Since we are working with multiple groups inside and outside of the studio, we don't yet have an exact date on when these updates will roll out."

The issue should be fully resolved in a matter of weeks, rather than months, Meyer added. In the meantime, Naughty Dog has elected to give away the two new maps free on both PS3 and PS4.

CVG's The Last of Us Remastered review said "one of last year's high lights is now one of 2014's best games."

Assassin's Creed Memories released for iOS devices

Assassin's Creed Memories, a card battle strategy RPG, was released today for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

The GREE and PlayNext collaboration is a free-to-play spin-off of the publisher's flagship adventure series that will have players travel through time building up an Assassin's guild by "recruiting famous allies".

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Customization options will let you create an Assassin and choose from an array of allies to suit your strategy and take on a full single-player campaign. You will also be able to take your guild online and face off with other players in matches with teams of up to 20 players each side.

"With an array of different Assassins to play with, Assassin's Creed Memories will allow you to revisit familiar periods in time like Colonial America and Rennaissance Italy, as well as new and unexplored eras," says Ubisoft.

"The card battle genre has been hugely popular around the world and GREE and PlayNext have demonstrated their know-how and expertise on such games," commented Ubisoft Mobile Division managing director Jean Michel Detoc.

The app is free to download, but contains in-app purchases in the form of Abstergo Credit packs, which range in price from $1.29 (100 credits) to $129.99 (11000 credits).

"The purchase of in-game currency can accelerate gameplay, but all players can play the entire game for free," says Ubisoft.

GTA V San Andreas Flight School update out now

Rockstar has released the Grand Theft Auto 5 San Andreas Flight School update.

Revealed earlier this week with a new trailer, the update introduces a fresh collection of air and land vehicles, plus aerial solo challenges.

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It makes GTA Online gameplay changes too, including offering increased payouts for tougher missions and in-game cash bonuses for playing missions with others.

The content is available now as part of automatic title update 1.16, which also includes a significant number of bug fixes detailed on Rockstar's support site.

GTA 5 has shipped more than 33 million units since launching on PS3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013.

At its E3 press conference in June, Sony confirmed that a PS4 version of GTA 5 was in the works. In a subsequent announcement, Rockstar added Xbox One and PC versions to the line-up of platforms the game will be available on.

"Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will take full advantage of the power of new generation systems to deliver the ultimate open-world experience," the studio said.

Set for release later this year, the remakes will feature "across-the-board graphical and technical improvements to deliver a stunning new level of detail".

Don't Expect to See Too Many More PS4 HD Remasters of PS3 Games

The Last of Us Remastered is already a best-selling game on PSN and at the top of the July NPD top 10 games sales list, but don't expect to see too many more PlayStation 4 HD remasters of PlayStation 3 games.

"You can't have too many of these things otherwise next-gen just looks like rehashed last-gen and we certainly don't want that," PlayStation Europe executive Jim Ryan told CVG in an interview. "I think the balance is just about right but you know, there are other games that could be looked at, but there'll come a point where next gen will have moved on and rehashing old-gen will have passed its sell-by date."

Ryan explained that bringing a game like The Last of US to PS4 made a lot of sense because it earned great reviews and came out near the launch of the PS4. For the people who transitioned to a PS4 from a competing platform last generation, it was also the first opportunity to play it. Ryan said that Sony will look at bringing other PS3 games to PS4 when it "makes sense."

At Gamescom 2014, Sony also announced that it's bringing Journey and The Unfinished Swan to PS4 and that they'll both run at 1080p.

Which PS3 games would you like to see remastered on PS4? Let us know in the comments below.

Witcher 3 Dev Responds to Fans Upset About Xbox One-Exclusive Physical Items

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt developer CD Projekt Red has responded to fans who are upset that the Xbox One Collector's Edition of the game is getting exclusive physical items.

All Collector's Editions of the game include an artbook, a figure of the game's hero Geralt fighting a Griffin, stickers, game map, soundtrack, steelbook, medallion, and a collector's box. A cloth map and two decks of Gwent cards, which you can play like The Witcher 3's in-game competitive card game, are exclusive specifically to the the Xbox One Collector's Edition.

"Why are we doing this? We need the support of partners to make our game visible worldwide," CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński said in a statement to Eurogamer. "This should hopefully translate to better sales, which will in consequence allow us to do what we have been doing for the last 10 years, i.e. reinvest this money to make more great RPGs, while still sticking to our values."

Iwiński said that CD Projekt Red will keep its promise not to have any platform or retailer-exclusive DLC, and that the company always tries to "bend over backwards" to give customers the best, DRM-free editions of its games regardless of platform.

"If you still consider that adding two decks of Gwent cards and a map of the in-game world to the Xbox One CE equals us betraying our values and not fulfilling our promises, well, it does make us sad, but the final call is always yours to make," he said. "Still, I do hope that what we offer is unique and we can ask you to give us the benefit of the doubt. We have more great things to announce for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in the coming months and I promise you won't be disappointed (yes, yes, there are no more exclusives coming)."

The Witcher 3 launches on February 24 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. For more on the game, check out this six minute gameplay video from Gamescom and our latest preview.

Would you rather have console-exclusive physical items or DLC? Let us know in the comments below?

Rockstar verifies 10 new Grand Theft Auto Online jobs

Rockstar has verified ten new Grand Theft Auto Online jobs, all created by its community for the recent I'm Not a Hipster event weekend.

The complete list of new jobs follows:

• Dubsta Warz - created by Darteyld: Put the climbing ability of your new Dubsta to the test in this point-to-point Race where roads are for the weak. Starting out on Chumash Beach, get to the edge of the Grand Senora Desert as the crow flies, crossing mountains and scaling vertiginous slopes under twilight.
• The 80's Turf War - created by GAMRZ_UK_SLiCkZ3: This neighborhood gang shootout uses over the top, action movie inspired weapons and careful placement of the cars included in the "I'm Not a Hipster" Update to give Grove Street a vintage feel. Players start with a Micro SMG and a handful of ammo, though more powerful weapons can be picked up if you can find them. The scarcity of ammo here encourages a varied approach, whether it's stalking the rooftops or demonstrating that the bonnet of a Glendale is not the best cover when there are RPGs flying around.
• Panto-monium Microcircuit - created by THEKerles: Proving that the Panto isn't just for old ladies and tree huggers, this intimate Lap Race is a test of car control and the ability to find the correct racing line. Expect tense bumper-to-bumper action, with very little runoff around some of the sharpest corners. You'll want to make the most of the few overtaking opportunities available.
• Swedish Folkrace - created by MaximilianR18: Swedish Folkrace is a mixture of tarmac and off-road racing for inexpensive road vehicles - perfect for some of the cars featured in the "I'm Not a Hipster" Update. MaximilianR18 - a member of both the CREATOR CORE CLUB and GTA Content Creators Crews - has introduced this local pastime to GTA Online, adding slippery turns that make for an intense Lap Race with plenty of sideways action. As the description suggests, try this one in your customized Warrener.
• HIPSTER DEATH RALLY - created by diggzzzz: The dirt roads by Senora Airstrip are the stage for this high speed off-road Race well suited to the "I'm Not a Hipster" Update cars. Watch out for the oil container on the first corner, or you could find yourself going out with the wrong kind of bang. There's also a ramp around half way to potentially slow you down or, if you come off a slipstream at just the right time, provide an opportunity for a stylish aerial overtake.
• The Coil - Created by Wormbo: A hair-raising Race for Supercars that snakes around the oval ring roads at Los Santos International Airport and then down a sharp detour past the Sightings restaurant and back again. Prepare for white knuckles gripping steering wheels and game controllers as you hurtle around fast sweeping curves, along single track overpasses or through the chicanes and hairpins around the restaurant. Long narrow sections overlap several times, maximizing potential for some spectacular high-speed crashes.
• The Los Santos Triangle - Created by Ma1evo1ent Cheese: After the Verification of Farm Fresh, Ma1evo1ent Cheese comes up with the goods once again with this short, technical Race with tight, Grand Prix-style corners that will push your car handling skills to the breaking point. Leave traffic off and go with Non-Contact to ensure that there are no distractions as you gun each lap trying to improve on your personal best. The default Supercar class will get around the course pretty quick, so go for a full 4 laps to really get a feel for it.
• Loop the Lake - created by twisterrk: This is a beautifully simple Lap Race around the Vinewood Lake that provides fantastic views of the Vinewood sign, the Galileo Observatory and the Downtown Los Santos skyline. Try not to get distracted by the scenery as you battle for position on a narrow curving road. Aggressive maneuvers will pay off, but don't be afraid to use the brake to avoid getting trapped behind the low tire walls at several corners. This Race plays well with most vehicle classes but try Muscle or Sports for a more technical challenge. Creator twisterrk is a member of the Reddit Dads Crew - specifically designed for those whose family commitments limit the time that they have to play GTA Online. If that's a familiar issue, get involved!
• Pit Stop - Created by IckyQualms: Thematically similar to previous verified Deathmatch Lodge Battle, this is a tight TDM map with plenty of hazards - don't linger too long by the fuel tanks! Pit Stop takes place in an underappreciated area of the map just off the Palomino freeway. Head off-piste to find the lone sniper rifle or make a play for the array of melee weapons to get a jump on unsuspecting opponents coming around corners.
• Retaliate - Created by gun_harmony: A tight Deathmatch map that makes for a small, frantic 2-team TDM or compact free-for-all. A compact setup with good use of vertical space, plenty of cover and opportunities to flank the enemy team. Head in with your Crew for an 8v8 battle and seek retribution on any Crews you've got beef with.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has shipped more than 33 million units since launching on PS3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013.

At its E3 press conference in June, Sony confirmed that a PS4 version of GTA 5 was in the works. In a later announcement, developer Rockstar added Xbox One and PC versions to the line-up of platforms the game will be available on.

"Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will take full advantage of the power of new generation systems to deliver the ultimate open-world experience," the studio said.

Set for release later this year, the remakes will feature "across-the-board graphical and technical improvements to deliver a stunning new level of detail".

New GTA Online missions pay tribute to old GTA games

Rockstar has verified a new batch of player created Grand Theft Auto Online missions which pay homage to classic GTA games.

"This week, we've rounded up a selection of Jobs created specifically in tribute to classic Grand Theft Auto missions from GTAIII, Vice City, San Andreas and GTAIV," says Rockstar.

"There's also a couple of Jobs themed around Chinatown Wars, set in a Los Santos slice of the Far East around Textile City," it adds.

Here's a list of the missions and their descriptions, sorted by the games they reference:

GTA III

Team Deathmatch: The Exchange by JIIThe_JokerIIK (Xbox 360)

Here we see the explosive final mission of GTAIII reimagined as a Deathmatch alongside the Land Act Dam. Extra points awarded for authenticity here as JIIThe_JokerIIK has carefully placed props to match Claude's final showdown with the Colombian Cartel. We recommend seizing control of the Buzzard quickly to gain the edge if you're playing this with one with your Crew.

Team Deathmatch: Bomb da Base by DuPz0r (PS3)

This Deathmatch - based on Act II of Bomb da Base in GTAIII, where Claude and 8-Ball blow up the Les Cargo ship - offers its own fair share of bang for the buck on a shipping vessel docked just off the Port of South Los Santos terminal. Be sure to check out the empty containers raised from the ground for some juicy firepower, though beware - someone else might have gotten there first...

GTA Vice City

Team Deathmatch: Four Iron by auclair-O_o (PS3)

Tommy Vercetti had to check his firearms at the door at Leaf Links in Vice City. Luckily, they seem to be far more liberal on weapon checks at the Los Santos Golf Club. In this Deathmatch remake of the Four Iron mission in VC, you'll find a few handguns scattered around the greens and fairways. Of course there are plenty of golf clubs lying around in case you feel like working on your short game.

GTA: San Andreas

Race: Farewell, My Love... by iLewisGTA (Xbox 360)

After Carl Johnson spurned the dangerous affections of Catalina in San Andreas, she pit her new boyfriend (a certain strong, silent type) against CJ in a race around Red County. In his GTA Online remake, iLewisGTA has selected Coupes as the default vehicle for authenticity and really nailed the tight, slippery corners of the original circuit around The Panopticon in Red County. A major Rockstar fan, Lewis had made a bunch of Throwback Jobs that you can check out on his Social Club profile.

Race: Valet Parking by DrHoctor (Xbox 360)

"Being a valet at the Richman Hotel has its perks, like all the nice cars that pull in. -Borrow- one of them and take it for a test drive" says DrHocter's description to this Lap Race, based on the valet parking side mission from San Andreas. Starting and ending at the Richman Hotel, and weaving through the tight Morningwood streets, there's a lot more to it than parking for sure. Watch out for approaching opponents along the looped section and try to get the customers' cars back without a scratch.

Race: High Stakes, Low Rider by thewolfking90 (PS3)

Top marks for authenticity go to thewolfking90 for this Race, which nicely captures the feel of its inspiration - the High Stakes, Low Rider mission in San Andreas. Set to Muscle Cars and finishing up at Del Perro Pier, you can almost feel Cesar Vialpando bearing down on your rear bumper. The choice to set West Coast Classics as the default radio station is a lovely nod to the classic wessyde vibe as well.

GTA IV

Capture: GTA: Lost Angels by RikkiVercetti (Xbox 360)

Inspired by the conflict between The Lost and the Angels of Death in The Lost and Damned, this Capture Job from prolific GTA Online Creator RikkiVercetti pits two teams in a proxy war for these two notorious motorcycle clubs, each tasked with stealing the signature rides from the other group. A broad stretch of rolling hills between West Vinewood and Stab City ensure that in this large capacity Capture you'll need to spread out and leave skilled defenders to protect your precious hogs from getting stolen. Sawed-off Shotguns and Molotovs as the default weapons setting also force you to pick your shots and cover choices wisely when nearing the enemy base.

GTA: Chinatown Wars

Capture: Chinatown Wars by Choc_late (Xbox 360)

This is an intimate, close quarters Capture amidst the urban neon and colorful lanterns of West Vinewood's Mission Row. Expect a heavy exchange of gun fire as two teams battle it out for domination of the central alleyway where the Capture Objects are to be found. The situation is further intensified by the accurate resident gang members who carry equal contempt for both teams as well as high-grade firearms. Respawning in Canis Mesas means either bag is never far away, so stake your claim on cover to protect your teammates during a desperate grab.

Team Deathmatch: Chinatown Wars by WinR4R (PS3)

Attrition across the rooftops or balls-out carnage in Sinners Passage - this Deathmatch features well thought out weapon placement ensuring that each match outcome here in Textile City has the potential to play out differently.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has shipped more than 33 million units since launching on PS3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013.

At its E3 press conference in June, Sony confirmed that a PS4 version of GTA 5 will be released later this year. In a later announcement, developer Rockstar added Xbox One and PC versions to the line-up