Mario Kart 7 (マリオカート7) is a 2011 racing video game. It is the seventh major installment in the Mario Kart series and the third to be released for handheld consoles. It was developed by Nintendo EAD and Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Similar to previous games in the series, players participate in go-kart racing on various Mario-themed tracks, playing as one of seventeen different Mario characters. While racing, the players make use of power-up items that hinder opposing characters. New additions to the game include hang-gliding attachments for karts, the ability to drive underwater, the ability to drive in first-person, and the ability to fully customize the vehicles' builds. Mario Kart 7 supports both local and online multiplayer for up to eight players. The game was released worldwide in early December 2011