LittleBigPlanet Karting combines Sackboy, ModNation Racers developer on PS3

Written by Matt Swider on March 22, 2012

News: Move over, Mario Kart. LittleBigPlanet is bringing customizable kart racing gameplay to the PS3 in LittleBigPlanet Karting, courtesy of the MNR dev.

LittleBigPlanet Karting is coming to PS3 news

Sony announced LittleBigPlanet Karting for PS3 today, allowing the company to expand on the УPlay, Create, ShareФ motto and move beyond its previously platform-only line of user-generated games. This Уsometime in 2012Ф-bound PS3 racing game will contain competitive and cooperative karting gameplay in 3D and be full of LittleBigPlanet's staples, Sackboy included. But while everyone's favorite burlap video game character is part of this fast-paced karting adventure, its development won't be spearheaded by the familiar Media Molecule, the brains behind LittleBigPlanet 1 and 2. Instead, United Front Games will take the helm of LBP's expansion into the kart racing genre.

"Since the launch of LittleBigPlanet, our community has provided incredible support, which can be seen in the more than six million levels and games that have been created and shared online through PlayStation Network, a truly wonderful accomplishment," said Guy Longworth, Senior Vice President, PlayStation Brand Marketing, SCEA. "Now, we're thrilled to bring PlayStation 3 owners the next Play, Create, Share experience, LittleBigPlanet Karting, a brand new competitive karting adventure that is sure to move this genre forward."

LittleBigPlanet Karting should be in safe hands, of course. Dedicated PlayStation gamers will no doubt recognize the Canadian developer's name from the ModNation Racers game released in 2010. It too was a karting racing on PS3 (and later a PS Vita launch game ported by another developer) and incorporated vast customization. But missing were the LittleBigPlanet elements we had become accustomed to. This may be a disappointment only to hardcore MNR fans - everyone else should be pleased with this new beginning for United Front Games. And as the company's senior producer James Grieve points out, УWe've crammed so much new functionality into LBPK that bringing creations forward from MNR unfortunately won't be possible. We can't wait to see what the community will create with all the new tools available!Ф

LittleBigPlanet Karting doesn't have a release date as of yet, but Sony's saying that the game is 2012-bound and it's looking pretty far along judging from the first LBPK trailer. We'll no doubt get hands-on time with the game come E3 2012 and probably figure out the release date, or at least the release window, at Sony's June press conference.