The Mario Kart 8 release date is coming this Summer, and Nintendo is offering you a free Wii U game with it. It looks like Nintendo is really pulling out all of the stops in promoting their failing console.
Some of the most popular Nintendo franchises have been getting updates on the Wii U, possibly to lure big name publishers into taking the console a little more seriously. Unfortunately they will need to show that the games can actually generate a reasonable profit before that happens.
Ubisoft especially has shown reluctance to support the publicly shunned console, giving it a bare-bones copy of some of the biggest killer IP titles such as Assassin’s Creed IV and Watch Dogs . Neither title has had any DLC or even a season pass announced on the Wii U, adding insult to injury as the latter of the two already suffers from a delay.
The May 30 Mario Kart 8 release date is close to the recent announcement that Nintendo is hosting a Super Smash Bros invitational at E3 2014 alongside a special promotion at Best Buy , and even allowing SSB Melee to be used at EVO 2014 . Nintendo knows something needs to be done to revive the Wii U, and it looks like they’re getting their marketing gears in motion.
Perhaps a Wii U port of Pokemon X and Y would help? It certainly sold well on the 3DS.
Nintendo has announced that if you register your game by July 31, meaning buying it soon after the Mario Kart 8 release date, you will get your choice of one of the following ten Wii U games free:
- Nintendo Land
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
- GAME & WARIO
- Pikmin 3
- The Wonderful 101
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
- Sonic Lost World
- Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
- Wii Party U
The Mario Kart 8 promotion applies to all legal copies of the game. Simply register your game, pick out a second one, and you’re getting two for the price of one, directly from Nintendo.
The big question remains which one you’ll choose.
[image via Gamers Bench ]