Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit FAQ – battery, surfaces, durability, needed space, share features disabled, more
Nintendo has published a lengthy FAQ that should answer most (if not all) questions you may have about Mario Kart Live: Grand Prix. It goes over general information including overview and cost, kart details like the battery and durability, and more.
Here’s the full rundown:
General Information
How does Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit work?
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit brings the fun of the Mario Kart series into the real world by using a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite system to race against opponents using a physical kart.
Players place gates to create a custom course layout in their home. Players then control the kart on the Nintendo Switch system while watching the live video from the kart’s camera on the Nintendo Switch game screen or TV (if playing in TV mode while docked).
The physical kart responds to boosts in-game and in the real world, stops when hit with an item, and can be affected in different ways depending on the race.
How much does Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit cost?
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, which is available in Mario Set and Luigi Set, will be available at a suggested retail price of $99.99 (each) in the US and $129.99 (each) in Canada.
The Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit software is download only, so just follow the included instructions to download it from the Nintendo eShop. (The software itself is free of charge.)
When does Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit release?
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit launches October 16th, 2020.
Does the set only include one kart? Can I still play with only one set? Can I play with multiple sets?
Each set includes the kart and the gates needed for creating the course, as well as optional arrow signboards. The Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit software is download only, so just follow the included instructions to download it from the Nintendo eShop. (The software is free of charge.)
If you buy one set, one player can play. If you have four Nintendo Switch systems and four karts, up to four players can race together.
How many players/karts does the game support?
Up to four people can play together locally. Each person must have their own Nintendo Switch system, physical kart and downloaded game.
Does the game have any online functionality?
There are no online features in this game.
About the karts
How long is the battery life of the kart?
The kart battery life will vary depending on how you play. It can last for approximately 90 minutes of continuous play when racing at 150cc.
How long does the kart take to charge?
The kart takes approximately 3.5 hours to fully charge. It may take longer to fully charge the kart if it is connected to the dock while the Nintendo Switch console is docked and in use.
How do I charge the karts?
You can charge the karts using the included USB charging cable and the Nintendo Switch dock or using the Nintendo Switch AC Adapter.
When using the USB charging cable with a home electrical outlet, please use a Nintendo USB AC Adapter (sold separately).
What types of floor/surface can the karts run on?
A hard, flat surface is recommended for the best gameplay experience. However, the physical kart will work on other types of flooring such as rugs and carpets, as long as they do not have long fibers or heavily textured designs.
What is the range for the kart?
Up to four people can play together locally. Each person must have their own Nintendo Switch system, physical kart and downloaded game.
How durable are the karts?
The karts are designed to withstand reasonable indoor use on a flat surface, and they can handle bumping into household items used to design the course, such as boxes, blocks and furniture.
Set Up and Play
How much space is needed to play?
For the best gameplay experience, a space of at least 12’ x 10’ is recommended, so courses can be easily customized to fit within different home environments. It is recommended to keep the kart within 15 feet or less of the Nintendo Switch system when racing.
We recommend racing the kart on a flat surface. Playing on elevated surfaces can impact the gameplay and performance of the physical kart.
Can I play on the TV screen?
Yes, you can play on the TV screen using a Nintendo Switch and dock.
We recommend TV mode for players who want to watch together with their family on the TV screen.
Note: TV mode cannot be used with the Nintendo Switch Lite.
Can I also play with Nintendo Switch Lite?
You can charge the karts using the included USB charging cable and the Nintendo Switch dock or using the Nintendo Switch AC Adapter.
When using the USB charging cable with a home electrical outlet, please use a Nintendo USB AC Adapter (sold separately).
How do I connect the Nintendo Switch to the kart?
The Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit software will display a QR code on the screen. When you read the QR code using the camera on the kart, the Nintendo Switch and the kart become connected (paired).
If you own multiple systems, the kart can be connected to a different Nintendo Switch.
Note: Each Nintendo Switch can only control one kart at a time. Players control the kart on the Nintendo Switch system while watching the live video from the kart’s camera on the Nintendo Switch game screen or TV (if playing in TV mode while docked).
How many gates can be used in a race?
The game only supports using four gates at a time. All four gates are required to create a course. Only the four gates that come with the kart can be used to play the game. Each gate has a special marker that tells the camera where the kart is on the course, triggering certain actions in the game.
Can I decorate/customize the gates?
Decorating or customizing the gates can impact their functionality and prevent the camera on the kart from properly reading them, so it is not recommended. However, we encourage people to get creative with their course designs by adding fun obstacles and household items.
Can I play the game outdoors?
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and the karts are designed for indoor use only, and exposure to outdoor elements like weather and dirt could impact the performance and longevity of the product.
For the best gameplay experience, we recommend racing the kart on a flat surface. Playing on elevated surfaces can impact the gameplay and performance of the physical kart.
Do physical obstacles I place in the course affect the virtual racers/Koopalings in the game?
Only the course design and in-game settings such as environments affect the CPU players. Physical obstacles create distractions and change the way human players navigate a course, adding new layers of fun and customization to each race. Additionally, if the physical kart hits a stationary object, the player will lose coins in-game.
Troubleshooting
What happens if one of the gates is damaged?
If a gate is damaged or becomes unreadable by the camera on the kart, please contact us for support.
Why can’t I capture screenshots or video clips using the built-in “share” button on the Nintendo Switch system?
Capturing and sharing capabilities are not available for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit.
Mario Kart Live: Grand Prix releases for Switch on October 16.
