Summary
The infamous Blue Shell power-up fromMario Kartis indeed getting aLEGOset as a special LEGO Insider bonus. SeveralLEGOsets inspired byMario Kartare being released this year, including a massive model of Mario and his signature red kart. Other upcoming sets include a smaller version of Mario’s kart that is compatible with the previously released interactive LEGO Mario figure, Wario and his trademark purple muscle car, and a gateway inspired by Bowser’s Castle.
Earlier this month, insiders claimed that LEGO and Nintendo were planning to release a buildable model of the Blue Shell power-up as an exclusive for LEGO Insiders rewards program members. For those who might not know, the Blue Shell (or “Spiny Shell” as it is alternately called) seeks out the racer in the lead and knocks them out with a massive explosion that can only be avoided by countering the shell with another power-up at just the right moment. It has been included injust about everyMario Kartgamesince 1996’sMario Kart 64.
Now, it has been officially confirmed that a LEGO model ofMario Kart’s Spiny Shell is on the way for LEGO Insiders.Jay’s Brick Blogreports that theLEGO Mario KartMario & Standard Kart set will launch on May 15, with pre-orders now available on theLEGO Shop website. LEGO Insider members with at least 2,500 points in their account can pick up theMario KartSpiny Shell set as a bonus starting at 12 AM Eastern Standard Time on May 15. This exclusive set consists of 234 pieces and stands at 4 inches tall.
LEGO Mario Kart Mario & Standard Kart and Mario Kart Spiny Shell Bonus Set Release Date
Visually, the set is identical to thepreviously leakedLEGO Mario KartBlue Shell images, depicting the Blue Shell as it looked in its initial game appearance and its current incarnations. As such, it lacks the wings that were introduced inMario Kart: Double Dashand were retained inMario Kart DSandMario Kart Wii, instead defaulting to the standard design that was reinstated fromMario Kart 7onward.
The Spiny Shell will take flight once again inMario Kart World, the next installment that willlaunch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 consoleon June 5. Before that, members of LEGO’s Insider rewards program will be able to build their own version of the legendary power-up that has changed the tide of so manyMario Kartraces over the years, starting later this week.
