We knew that Mario Kart 8's first round of DLC would be coming in November, but now we have a firm date: November 13.

The DLC includes adds three new racers to the roster...well, one new racer (Link) plus a cat costume for Princess Peach and Tanooki costume for Mario. Two new carts: F-Zero's Blue Falcon, and an Epona-themed bike. And eight new tracks, which were revealed during today's Nintendo Direct presentation. Recognizable tracks include

• Mute City (with the original music)
• Excitbike-themed track
• Hyrule Castle-themed track
• Rainbow Road

Nintendo also unveiled how Amiibo, Nintendo's entry to NFC-powered collectibles, will work with the game. Each Amiibo you sync will unlock a costume for your Mii racer. The full roster of usable Amiibo are:

• Mario
• Luigi
• Link
• Princess Peach
• Yoshi
• Donkey Kong
• Captain Falcon
• Kirby
• Samus
• Fox McCloud

So far two DLC packs have been announced for $8 each, or $12 if you buy them together. The next round of DLC, the Animal Crossing pack, launches next May and includes the Villager, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser, in addition to more currently unrevealed content.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-dlc-release-date-and-new-tracks-reveale/1100-6423397/

That Captain Falcon helmet was AWESOME!

Dat F-zero Track!!!! Dat F-Zero Remix!!! Dat Release date!!!

Seeing that the gave Falcon some use as an Amiibo one could infer 2 things:

A: Captain Falcon isn't going to be going on any new adventures ever again because they put his stuff specifically in a different game.

B: Nintendo is saving Falcon for other plans as they didn't give him a character model even though Link and AC characters are getting them.

Just some things to think about. Anyway, I'm SO glad the SNES Rainbow Road is returning!!! I can't wait to hear the jazzy remix that they come up with for already such an great theme. Zelda's field was inevitable and the F-Zero stage is sure to make some F-Zero fans happy... as I am not one but Falcon is one of my regulars for Smash tho! I don't hate him at least.

That's a nice detail, the Rupees on the Zelda track acting as coins!

So, the full list of new tracks:

Egg Cup:

• (GCN) Yoshi Circuit
• Excitebike Arena
• Dragon Driftway
• Mute City

Triforce Cup:

• (Wii) Wario's Gold Mine
• (SNES) Rainbow Road
• Ice Ice Outpost
• Hyrule Circuit

Apparently you will be be able to play the new courses online... only if everyone else has the DLC.

Awkward! So the Ice track is a new one then! Phew, I was going crazy trying to figure out which Retro it was.

What about characters?

Yeah. Judging from how the new tracks are ordered, it looks like Nintendo just didn't care about following the Nitro on the top row / Retro on the bottom row rule. Not only are new tracks and old tracks mixed in together in the same cup, they didn't even give an equal number of Retro to Nitro!