Zelda: Breath of the Wild Comes To Mario Kart 8 Deluxe In Free DLC

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A new update to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch adds free Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild content. The free DLC gives Link a new look and a new motorcycle.

Mario Kart 8 was originally released for the Wii U in 2014. As the fastest-selling game for the Wii U, it came as no surprise when Nintendo decided to release an enhanced port of the game for the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe adds several new modes and contains all of the DLC from the original game. One of the DLC characters is Link, the protagonist of the Legend of Zelda series. Mario Kart 8 became Link's first entry in a Mario Kart title.

Last night, Nintendo released an update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which adds Link's Master Cycle Zero as a new vehicle, along with Breath of the Wild's Link, which has the legendary hero dressed in the Champion's Tunic, instead of his traditional green tunic. Like the multiple colored Yoshis, "Champion's Tunic Link", will be a variant for Link, and not a separate character. The free DLC also includes the Ancient Tires and the Paraglider as new customization parts. A trailer from Nintendo shows the character racing around the track on the Master Cycle Zero.

The Master Cycle Zero actually comes from DLC for Breath of the Wild. The motorcycle was part of the second DLC pack for the game, The Champion's Ballad. Link obtains the vehicle after defeating the boss of Champion's Ballad.

The addition of the Breath of the Wild content to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is evidence of Nintendo's embrace of the "new" Link. Link's latest adventure saw unprecedented, record-breaking sales for Nintendo. Breath of the Wild has already become the best-selling Legend of Zelda game of all time, so it's easy to see why the game is changing the way Link is presented in other games. Breath of the Wild's Link will also be on the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, in the place of the traditional Link. The change not only affects Link's appearance, but his moveset and play style as well.

The latest update to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to please fans of Breath of the Wild. It's possible that Nintendo will release more free DLC for the game in the coming months. Consistently adding new content is sure to help in extending the game's life cycle.