Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for its Wii U home video game console. It was released in May 2014. It retains Mario Kart series game mechanics, where players control Mario franchise characters in kart racing, collecting a variety of items to hinder opponents or gain advantages in the race. Mario Kart 8 introduces anti-gravity driving on walls or ceilings, and allows players to bump each another for a short boost. It has single-player and multiplayer modes, including online via the Nintendo Network.