Mario Kart VR coming to United States

Bandai Namco and Nintendo are bringing Mario Kart VR to the United States for some hilarious and ultra-fun virtual reality shenanigans.

Every time I play my HTC Vive, one thing becomes more and more clear to me: VR was made to be played with friends. VR really belongs in arcade environments where everyone can get in on the fun, and the industry has seen various "VRcades" pop up over the years. One of the most intriguing is Bandai Namco's and Nintendo's VR Zone Portal arcade, which breathes new life into Mario Kart. Previously only available in Japan, Mario Kart VR first came to the UK and is now coming to the U.S. for a limited time.

HTC today announced that the Vive-powered Mario Kart VR experience will come to Washington, DC's Union Station alongside other interactive games in the VR Zone Portal banner. Sadly the games will only be playable for six months and won't be a permanent fixture.

"Running off the award-winning HTC Vive VR system, Mario Kart VR will not only feature industry-leading graphics but, in homage to the original game, Vive's Tracker technology will allow players to reach up and grab classic items like banana skins to pelt their opponents with," reads a press release.

"Additionally, Mario Kart VR will boast haptic feedback capabilities, creating a truly four-dimensional experience that allows players to feel every single twist and turn."

We're not sure when the attraction will open up its doors, but we expect it to be massively popular among gamers and tourists alike.