I... Was not expecting this. Nintendo UK has honest-to-goodness announced Mario Kart 8 DLC coming out in November. (one comes out in November, the other doesn't come out until March 2015). It's starting to look like the Smash Kart people have always wanted, too. Link and the Villager and Isabelle from Animal Crossing will be among the downloadable characters, and Zelda and Animal Crossing inspired tracks have been promised. Plus an F-Zero inspired kart.

Here's the page, but long story short, there will be two DLC packs available for ~$12 each, (see edit) including three characters, four karts, and two cups (eight courses) per pack. It certainly seems reasonable to me.

I'm more than a little surprised. I could see Nintendo making Mario Kart 8 an all-out Super Smash Kart, but to just dabble in non-Mario content like this seems odd. For some reason I feel compelled to dislike the idea of mixing in other franchises like this, especially when it means putting Link on a motorcycle... But I can't make myself dislike it. It's just too cool! I'll take all the HD Link I can get! I am very excited for race on some Hyrulian tracks. I've never played Animal Crossing, so I'm ambivalent towards that side of it, but more Mario Kart is more Mario Kart!

In related strange Nintendo news, apparently there's a Pokemon-Tekken Tag crossover "Pokken Fighters" slated for arcade release in Japan? So that's a thing.

Rapid Edit: As I was writing it, the North American page happened! First off, it's $12 for both packs! That's an entire four new cups (including a TRIFORCE CUP), meaning a 50% increase in track number, for just twelve dollars. Props to Nintendo, I expect this will get some people who haven't already to buy the game. There's also more pictures (including the Animal Crossing characters)! Pack 1 (the Zelda one) will release in November, the second will release in March 2015. So there will be waiting. I you haven't gotten a Wii U and Mario Kart 8 yet, you should, because the you can race me as Link. Plus, of course, the Wii U has other great games, just sayin'.