14 DAY TRIAL // What we know: Mario Kart 8 is being developed by an internal team and will be published by Nintendo exclusively on the Wii U home console at some point in the spring of 2014.
The game is set to mostly use the same core mechanics of the series, which means that multiple characters taken from the game universes that the company has created will be able to compete in a wide range of events built around speed and the timely deployment of gadgets.
Motorbikes, underwater races and gliders are all present in the game and the major new tweak in the gameplay is represented by anti-gravity sections that will see competitors move on the ceiling or on the walls, with surprising changes in perspective.
Nintendo is also promising that the world it creates will look better than ever thanks to the extra power of the Wii U and the team is targeting a solid 60 frame per second even for the four-player modes.
A full list of the included characters and their specific abilities will be offered closer to launch and it is said to contain a number of surprises.
Why it matters: Mario Kart 8 is the first big release of 2014 for the Wii U, a home console that is not performing anywhere near the sales targets that Nintendo has set for it.
The game aims to remain classic in order to appeal to long-term fans while also delivering a dash of innovation, focused mainly on anti-gravity, to draw in new players.
The Wii U needs Mario Kart 8 to perform very well in the market place and if it fails to do so, Nintendo might have a very big problem on its hands for the rest of the year.
The full list of Incoming 2014 Games articles can be read on Softpedia.