Mario Kart 8 All Known Info

Release Date:
30th May 2014

General Stuff:
- Anti Gravity.
- 12 players return from Mario Kart Wii.
- Underwater racing and gliding return from Mario Kart 7.
- If you tricked on the glider ramp, you will get a speed boost after landing.
- Re-spawns are slightly faster than MK7, and the screen doesn't go black anymore.
- Bikes return but it is unknown if there are any inward drifting bikes
- Bikes are able to get red mini-tubos now.
- Wheelies are also back but it appears you can only wheelie when boosting.
- You can view other peoples' items with the GamePad.
- Coins return from Mario Kart 7, maximum is still 10.
- Mini turbos charge a lot faster.
- Kart customization is back for both bikes and karts.
- Two sets of kart bodies and bike bodies were shown and three sets of tires: standard, pink-rimmed tires and Monsters.
- Bullet Bill and Bomb-omb did not appear in the demo.
- Mario Kart 8 runs on 60 FPS.

Confirmed Characters:
Mario
Luigi
Princess Peach
Princess Daisy
Toad
Yoshi
Bowser
Koopa Troopa
Donkey Kong
Wario
Waluigi
Toadette
Baby Mario
Baby Luigi
Baby Daisy
Baby Peach
Rosalina
Larry Koopa
Morton Koopa Jr.
Wendy O. Koopa
Iggy Koopa
Roy Koopa
Lemmy Koopa
Ludwig von Koopa

Confirmed Items:
Green Shell
Triple green shells
Red Shell
Triple red shells
Banana
Triple bananas
Mushroom
Triple mushrooms
Golden mushroom
Blooper
Fire Flower
Thunderbolt
Blue Shell (grounded)
Bomb-omb
Star
Bullet Bill

New Tracks:
Mario Circuit
Toad Harbour
Twisted Mansion
Cloudtop Cruise
Thwomp Ruins
Dolphin Shoals
Sweet Sweet Canyon
Sunshine Airport
Shy Guy Falls
Bone Dry Ruins
Water Park*
Larry's Lights*

* = Name not confirmed as of now

Confirmed Retro Tracks:
3DS Music Park
3DS Piranha Plant Slide
3DS DK Jungle
DS Tick Tock Clock
Wii Grumble Volcano
GCN Dry Dry Desert
GBA Mario Circuit

Confirmed Controllers:
GamePad
Wii Wheel

Link to info page