Mario Kart VR Comes to the United Kingdom This Summer

Virtual reality enthusiasts will be quite pleased to hear a new popular game is coming their way. It is expected Mario Kart will make a VR appearance in London later this year. The VR Zone Portal London, found at the Hollywood Bowl at the O2 Arena, has confirmed gamers can access this game during the summer.

Mario Kart Meets Virtual Reality

Although Mario Kart is one of the most popular older video games, it will make its way to new platforms in the future. Bringing this immersive racing experience to VR enthusiasts will undoubtedly provide some interesting results. The game will be playable on the HTC Vive at the VR Zone Portal London location this summer. This move comes after the initial success of the Mario Kart VR experience in Japan.

Virtual reality enthusiasts will experience Mario Kart in a multiplayer setting. Four players can race through the Mushroom Kingdom through specially designed Mario Karts. With the HTC Vive’s Tracker technology, it becomes possible for players to reach out and grab items to throw at their opponents. It is a completely different take on the classic game, but with far more interactivity involved.

HTC Vive Europe General Manager Paul Brown adds:

“We are so excited to be working with Bandai Namco and Hollywood Bowl to bring Mario Kart VR to the UK, following its stunning launch in Shinjuku. Location-based virtual reality experiences are hugely important in terms of increasing accessibility for VR fans, and a great opportunity to introduce new audiences to HTC Vive.”

It is expected the Mario Kart VR experience will hit other UK locations later this year. Both Tunbridge Wells and Lees also host Hollywood Bowl locations. More venues may be added to this list as more time progresses. Whether or not this will spark a renewed interest in VR, is a different matter altogether. Public showcases of this technology tend to get consumers excited about the potential of VR.

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