‘Mario Kart 8’ Toys Make Appearance In McDonald’s Happy Meals

Mario Kart 8 is one of the most popular games that has come out on the Wii U, possibly since the console was released to the market two years ago. If there was any doubt just how popular Mario Kart 8 among gamers, McDonald’s just put an end to that with the announcement there will now be Mario Kart 8 toys available in their Happy Meals.

Mario Kart 8 was released just over a month ago and it has already sold more than two million copies. McDonald’s has always been a company that has been good about seizing on the popularity of video games, movies, and television series.

It helps that Mario Kart 8 seems ready made for a line of toys, considering the game is all about letting gamers tool around a track, trying to outrace their opponents while throwing all kinds of obstacles in their way.

Wii U Daily was the first to catch the new video of a commercial publicizing the Mario Kart 8 toys as part of Happy Meals. The site reports there are actually seven different Mario Kart 8 toys available in these meals.

Crave Online points out this strategy is also likely a way for Nintendo to better pave the road when it releases the Amiibo toys later this year. The new approach by Nintendo is to try and draw in younger games by going the Skylanders and Disney Infinity route with physical figures that can also be used in-game.

It appears that McDonald’s is offering up almost all the figures in its Happy Meals that you can play in Mario Kart 8. By allowing fans of the game to actually get their hands on the figures, it could spur even more popularity for the title.

Above is a picture of the Happy Meal box that has been specially made for the new toys. Below is another photo that is obviously a promotional picture in order to get fans of both the fast food restaurant and the Wii U game salivating.

Considering that Nintendo is looking to make more of an impression on the younger Wii U players, it seems likely that there will some sort of tie in with other Wii U games in the near future.

The Mario Kart 8 toys inside of Happy Meals were actually announced last month but they are available starting this weekend in most places across the United States.