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KartRider: Drift News

Orion Has Arrived Event



We're blasting off into Northeu, and Orion is dressing to match! Get Galactic Guardian Orion with this special, week-long Mission Point event!
[h2]Orion Has Arrived Event[/h2]
Complete a new set of challenges over the next week to claim Galactic Guardian Orion!

Event Duration:
  • PDT (UTC -7): Wednesday, March 20, 2024 (End of Maintenance) - Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:00 PM
  • CET (UTC +1): Thursday, March 21, 2024 (End of Maintenance) - Thursday, March 28, 2024 1:00 AM
  • JST (UTC +9): Thursday, March 21, 2024 (End of Maintenance) - Thursday, March 28, 2024 9:00 AM
  • AEDT (UTC +11): Thursday, March 21, 2024 (End of Maintenance) - Thursday, March 28, 2024 11:00 AM
 


Event Details and Challenges:
  • Race in KartRider: Drift for the next week to earn a special look for Orion!
  • Challenges will award Mission Points, which unlock bonus rewards.
    • Note: Mission Points are not spent. Earning 400 Mission Points will unlock the 200 and 400 Mission Point rewards.
  • Ongoing Challenges:
    • Complete 1 Race on a Northeu Theme track in Ranked Queue:
      • Rewards: 100 Mission Points and 500 Lucci.
      • Can be completed once during the event.
    • Use 200 Items in Ranked Queue Races:
      • Rewards: 100 Mission Points and 500 Lucci.
      • Can be completed once during the event.
    • Reach 50 km in Total Distance Driven in Matchmade Races:
      • Rewards: 100 Mission Points and 500 Lucci.
      • Can be completed once during the event.
    • Open 3 Racing Boxes:
      • Rewards: 100 Mission Points and 500 Lucci.
      • Can be completed once during the event.
  • Prizes must be claimed before the event ends, and all items sent to the Mailbox must be claimed within 30 days of receipt, or they will expire.
 
Mission Point Rewards:
  • 200 Mission Points: 2,000 Lucci
  • 400 Mission Points: Galactic Guardian Orion (Fine Character)
 [h2]Ongoing Events[/h2][h2]Smiles for Miles[/h2]


Get a wealth of Lucci and new boxes for the next two weeks!

Event Duration:
  • PDT (UTC -7): Wednesday, March 13, 2024 5:00 PM - Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:00 PM
  • CET (UTC +1): Thursday, March 14, 2024 1:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 1:00 AM
  • JST (UTC +9): Thursday, March 14, 2024 9:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 9:00 AM
  • AEDT (UTC +11): Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 11:00 AM
 
Event Details:
  • Log into KartRider: Drift and hit the tracks and unlock a new reward every 30 minutes!
  • Once 30 minutes have elapsed in-game, go to the Smiles for Miles screen under Events to claim your prizes!
  • Multiple prizes can be earned every day, with each reward unlocking in the order listed below.
  • Once claimed, prizes will be sent to the in-game Mailbox for you to redeem.
  • Prizes must be claimed from this screen before the event ends, and all items sent to the Mailbox must be claimed within 30 days of receipt, or they will expire.
 
Event Rewards:
  • 30 Minutes Logged In: 500 Lucci
  • 60 Minutes Logged In: 500 Lucci
  • 90 Minutes Logged In: 500 Lucci
  • 120 Minutes Logged In: 500 Lucci
  • 150 Minutes Logged In: Special Outfit Box x1
    • Contains one of a variety of Characters.
    • The full list of items in the Special Outfit Box and their odds of being obtained can be viewed in-game by selecting the Special Outfit Box and pressing the [View Contents] button.
  • 180 Minutes Logged In: 1,000 Lucci
  • 210 Minutes Logged In: 1,000 Lucci
  • 240 Minutes Logged In: 1,000 Lucci
  • 270 Minutes Logged In: 1,000 Lucci
  • 300 Minutes Logged In: Special Kart Box x1
    • Contains one of a variety of Karts and Kart Accessories.
    • The full list of items in the Special Kart Box and their odds of being obtained can be viewed in-game by selecting the Special Kart Box and pressing the [View Contents] button.
 [h2]Daily Reward Event[/h2]


Get a collection of Trophies to redeem with the new Racing Pass and Special Outfit and Kart Boxes just by logging into KartRider: Drift!

Event Duration:
  • PDT (UTC -7): Wednesday, March 13, 2024 5:00 PM - Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:00 PM
  • CET (UTC +1): Thursday, March 14, 2024 1:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 1:00 AM
  • JST (UTC +9): Thursday, March 14, 2024 9:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 9:00 AM
  • AEDT (UTC +11): Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:00 AM - Thursday, March 28, 2024 11:00 AM
 
Event Details:
  • Log into KartRider: Drift to claim your prize!
  • Prizes will be sent immediately to the Garage upon being earned.
  • Skipping a day will not skip any prizes. For example, logging in on Day 1, missing Day 2, and returning on Day 3 will reward you Login Reward 1 and 2. You must login on 14 days during the event to receive all 14 prizes.
  • Days begin and end at 12:00 AM UTC.
 
Event Rewards:
  • Login Reward 1: Trophy x2
    • Trophies can be used over the duration of the Racing Pass, and all unused trophies at the end of the duration are reset.
  • Login Reward 2: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 3: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 4: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 5: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 6: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 7: Special Outfit Box x1
    • Contains one of a variety of Characters.
    • The full list of items in the Special Outfit Box and their odds of being obtained can be viewed in-game by selecting the Special Outfit Box and pressing the [View Contents] button.
  • Login Reward 8: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 9: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 10: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 11: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 12: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 13: Trophy x2
  • Login Reward 14: Special Kart Box x1
    • Contains one of a variety of Karts.
    • The full list of items in the Special Kart Box and their odds of being obtained can be viewed in-game by selecting the Special Kart Box and pressing the [View Contents] button.
 [h2]Weekend Login Event[/h2]
There's more Lucci for you to earn on the weekend for the next two weeks!

Event Duration - Weekend 1:
  • PDT (UTC -7): Thursday, March 14, 2024 5:00 PM - Sunday, March 17, 2024 5:00 PM
  • CET (UTC +1): Friday, March 15, 2024 1:00 AM - Monday, March 18, 2024 1:00 AM
  • JST (UTC +9): Friday, March 15, 2024 9:00 AM - Monday, March 18, 2024 9:00 AM
  • AEDT (UTC +11): Friday, March 15, 2024 11:00 AM - Monday, March 18, 2024 11:00 AM
 
Event Duration - Weekend 2:
  • PDT (UTC -7): Thursday, March 21, 2024 5:00 PM - Sunday, March 24, 2024 5:00 PM
  • CET (UTC +1): Friday, March 22, 2024 1:00 AM - Monday, March 25, 2024 1:00 AM
  • JST (UTC +9): Friday, March 22, 2024 9:00 AM - Monday, March 25, 2024 9:00 AM
  • AEDT (UTC +11): Friday, March 22, 2024 11:00 AM - Monday, March 25, 2024 11:00 AM
 
Event Details:
  • Log into KartRider: Drift to earn a Lucci bonus!
  • Each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you log in during the weekend will award you with 1,000 Lucci!
    • Days begin and end at 12:00 AM UTC.
  • Prizes must be claimed from the event menu before the event ends, and all items sent to the Mailbox must be claimed within 30 days of receipt, or they will expire.
 

Northeu Patch Notes

New Updates
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h2]Personal Shop[/h2]
  • The Personal Shop has been added, where you can buy items that have previously been sold in the Item Shop.
    • You can access your Personal Shop from [ Shop – Personal Shop ].
    • The list of available items refreshes every 24 hours. You can also spend 100 Mileage to refresh immediately.
      • When you use Mileage to refresh your product list, your next free automatic refresh will happen 24 hours after that point.
    • Up to 10 items appear at once, which can be purchased for either K-COIN or Mileage.
      • The list of products and their pricing may differ between Racers.
      • Items you already own will not appear in the Personal Shop. If you have the entire collection, you will not be able to enter Personal Shop.
 [h2]New Theme and Tracks[/h2]
10 New Northeu Theme Tracks:
  • Northeu: Faraway Planet
    • Difficulty:
    • Supported Game Modes: Item and Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Cosmoway
    • Difficulty: ★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Item and Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Hoppin' and Jumpin'
    • Difficulty: ★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Item and Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Perilous Shortcuts
    • Difficulty: ★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Spaceport Launchpad
    • Difficulty: ★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Item and Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Path in the Sky
    • Difficulty: ★★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Item and Speed Mode
  • Northeu: Fighter Airfield
    • Difficulty: ★★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Speed Mode Only
  • Northeu: Sky Way
    • Difficulty: ★★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Speed Mode Only
  • Northeu: Space 101
    • Difficulty: ★★★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Speed Mode Only
  • Northeu: Express
    • Difficulty: ★★★★★
    • Supported Game Modes: Speed Mode Only
 [h2]New Characters[/h2]
Three characters from beyond the stars have been added to KartRider: Drift! These characters will be available through the Item Shop, and you can learn more about them through the in-game [Item Mode Skill] menu, or in the Character Skills Encyclopedia.

[h3]Taki[/h3]
"No one will get in the way of dreams, not even my father!"

Rivaski’s son, Taki has developed a large range of emotions from his time on Earth that far surpasses his father.  He wants to be the best racer in the universe, and has set his antennae on the less advanced planet of Earth, because of its collection of excellent racers.

Active Skill: Lightstone Boost (Intermediate): Taki processes the energy extracted from the Lightstone to provide a boost effect to nearby Racers. If Taki does not apply the boost effect to the opposing team, Taki will receive the Boost.

[h3]Erini[/h3]
"Do I... like Taki...?"

This empathetic girl has protected Taki ever since they were children. Under her cute exterior lurks a blunt personality, but she always has a soft spot for her childhood friend and perceives Taki as a weakling who needs to be protected. She hasn't been racing as long as Taki, but she's so talented that Taki is actually jealous of her. When they're not racing, Taki is helping Erini get better at expressing her feelings.

Active Skill: Lightstone Shield (Beginners): Erini manipulates energy from the powerful Lightstone to help her new friends! A shield zone is placed in the direction Erini is facing, which grants Shields to her teammates and removes Shields and Angel Armor effects from her opponents.

[h3]Rivaski[/h3]
"My friend... How could I forget you?"

This eccentric engineer is the head of Northeu's fighter space station. After many years off-planet, he returned one day in a kart powered by Lightstone and restored peace to Northeu in its times of need. Though he was once an ally to Earthlings, even carrying an old friend's helmet with him at all times, his attitude lately has turned quite hostile.

Passive Skill: Clairvoyance (Beginners): Utilizing Planet Northeu's superior technology, Rivaski has invented a scanner that reveals his opponent's items! Obtain a scanner that displays the items of each racer directly in front of and behind him. Rivaski gains scanners after a set amount of time passes.
[h2]New Bonus Tickets[/h2]
  • Four new Bonus Tickets have been added:
    • Proficiency 100% Bonus Ticket: Increase the Proficiency reward for completing races by 100%
    • RP & Proficiency 100% Bonus Ticket: Increase the RP and Proficiency rewards for completing races by 100%
    • Lucci & Proficiency 100% Bonus Ticket: Increase the Lucci and Proficiency rewards for completing races by 100%
    • RP & Lucci & Proficiency 100% Bonus Ticket: Increase the RP, Lucci, and Proficiency rewards for completing races by 100%
 
Game Balance Changes
[h2]Karts[/h2]
  • Karts are now classified into three groups, based on their Drift and Boost Acceleration:
    • Speed Type: Boost Acceleration > Drift Acceleration
    • Balanced Type: Boost Acceleration = Drift Acceleration
    • Drift Type: Boost Acceleration < Drift Acceleration
 [h2]Character Skills[/h2]
  • Character Skills have been added for the following characters.
 
Character
Category
Difficulty
Skill Name
Description
Viktor
Active Skill
Intermediate
Terrible Time Bomb
Viktor places a bomb on a selected opponent that eventually explodes, hitting all nearby Racers with an explosion.
Ethen
Passive Skill
Intermediate
Ethen's Book Club
Water Wisps have a chance to turn into Books when obtained. When used, Books temporarily stuns opponents and drops them if they're caught in mid-air. This effect gets stronger depending on how far the opponent is from Ethen.
Derek
Passive Skill
Expert
Extreme Velocity
When driving above 100km/h, Derek's default speed is increased in levels, up to a max of level 3. His speed level resets when he encounters driving interference, if his item slots get too heavy, or drives below 50km/h.
Mobi
Passive Skill
Expert
Sleight of Hand
The skill activates at a set interval, providing a Boost effect. If he collides with an opponent who has an item while boosting, he duplicates the opponent's item. However, he can only duplicate items that can be obtained from the Item Box.
BLACKPINK JISOO
Passive Skill
Beginner
JISOO's Escape Plan
JISOO never hesitates to use the art of escape she's learned as a member of BLACKPINK to win the race! When she is trapped in a water effect, JISOO can immediately escape for a limited number of times.
BLACKPINK JENNIE
Passive Skill
Beginner
JENNIE's Water Blast
JENNIE is ready to use some special ammunition to win the race for BLACKPINK! Obtaining a Water Bomb exchanges it for a Water Bomb Bouquet which throws several Water Bombs at once.
BLACKPINK ROSÉ
Passive Skill
Beginner
ROSÉ's Promise
ROSÉ has a chance to win it all for BLACKPINK after she made a mysterious promise to the water fairy! ROSÉ may obtain either a Water Bomb or Water Wisp, depending on which type of item or skill she blocked or was hit by.
BLACKPINK LISA
Passive Skill
Beginner
LISA's Willpower
Whenever things get tough, LISA gives it her all to score a victory for BLACKPINK! LISA has a chance to obtain a Boost when she is hit with an item or skill.
 
  • Active Skill cooldowns have been reduced by 5% between all grades of character outfits.
    • Developer's Note: During the initial planning stage, we decided to set the minimum unit of cooldown reduction for active skills to 1 seconds, which decreases as the Outfits' tier increases. However since the ratio of reduction was not uniform, there was an issue of outfits for some characters not being as useful as they should be. To resolve this issue, we decided to apply 5% reduction rate across the board. All skills' basic cooldown lengths have been adjusted accordingly, either increased or decreased.
Active Skill Changes:
  • Balloon Blast (Bazzi):
    • Water Balloons will now be displayed in team colors, and can interact with certain objects on the track.
    • The longer that Bazzi spins the Water Balloon, longer the target Racer will be trapped in Water Prison.
    • Water Balloons stay on tracks for a longer period of time.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 18s, 9s after first use per race (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 17.1s, 8.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 9s)
      • Rare: 16.2s, 8.1s after first use per race (Previously 16s / 8s)
      • Heroic: 15.3s, 7.6s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 8s)
      • Legendary: 14.4s, 7.2s after first use per race (Previously 14s / 8s)
    • Developer's Note: Bazzi's skill is to throw a Water Balloon to a faraway target, and apply Water Bomb effect to them. Since the skill was designed to deter opponents outside of certain distance, we initially designed it so the Water Bomb can also affect the caster. However, since it was really difficult to hit a target with the skill with minimal impact, we decided to buff this skill.

      Bazzi's Water Bombs will now stay on tracks for longer. And the longer the throw was to hit the target with Water Balloon, the longer the target will now stay in Water Prison. Since it is much more likely to miss when you aim far away targets, the caster and ally racers will not be trapped in Water Prison longer than the default time.
  • Leave Me Alone (Sophia):
    • The magnet effect can now be deactivated, and the effects of the equipped balloons can also be momentarily paused.
    • Skill cooldowns have been reduced for all ranks:
      • Common: 15s, 7.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 9s)
      • Fine: 14.2s, 7.1s after first use per race (Previously 16s / 9s)
      • Rare: 13.4s, 6.7s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 8s)
      • Heroic: 12.6s, 6.3s after first use per race (Previously 14s / 8s)
      • Legendary: 11.8s, 5.9s after first use per race (Previously 13s / 7s)
    • Developer's Note: Sophia's skill is designed to remove buffs from nearby opponents. Although it has the ability to remove Angel, Shield, and Booster buffs, the timing is hard to get right, and the effect of the skill was too weak to be useful, which resulted in an overall improvement. Firstly, the skill now includes the capability to remove magnet acceleration effect of and temporarily deactivate balloon effects. We added magnet acceleration since it is close to booster acceleration, and by temporarily deactivating the effects of various balloon items, it opens up possibilities for synergy with other items or skills. Furthermore, the cooldown time has been improved, allowing for more frequent use of the skill.
  • Ghosted (Spirit Kid):
    • Camera movement while the skill is being used has been improved to feel more natural.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 17s, 8.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 9s)
      • Fine: 16.1s, 8s after first use per race (Previously 16s / 9s)
      • Rare: 15.2s, 7.6s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 8s)
      • Heroic: 14.3s, 7.1s after first use per race (Previously 14s / 8s)
      • Legendary: 13.4s, 6.7s after first use per race (Previously 13s / 7s)
  • Leaps & Bounds (Dao):
    • Skill cooldowns have been increased for all ranks:
      • Common: 17s (Previously 14s)
      • Fine: 16.1s (Previously 13s)
      • Rare: 15.2s (Previously 12s)
      • Heroic: 14.3s (Previously 11s)
      • Legendary: 13.4s (Previously 10s)
    • Developer's Note: Dao's skill enables the ability to zoom through the track rapidly in high synergy with track situations and other skills and items. Because of Leaps & Bounds' characteristics, it has been used to mitigate the effects of enemy items or skills, resulting in Dao showing a higher win rate compared to other characters. Consequently, a nerf was deemed necessary. However, we are still aiming to make Dao's skill usage fun, so rather than altering the power of jumping itself, we are increasing its cooldown time to decrease the overall frequency of use.
  • Greed on the High Seas (Lodumani):
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 27s (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 25.6s (Previously 26s)
      • Rare: 24.2s (Previously 25s)
      • Heroic: 22.2s (Previously 24s)
      • Legendary: 21.4s (Previously 23s)
  • HexaDraw (Miso):
    • Skill cooldowns have been decreased for all ranks:
      • Common: 25s (Previously 31s)
      • Fine: 23.7s (Previously 30s)
      • Rare: 22.4s (Previously 29s)
      • Heroic: 21.1s (Previously 28s)
      • Legendary: 19.8s (Previously 27s)
    • Developer's Note: Miso's skill is designed to pull opponents towards herself to bother enemy racers. While we think it is a powerful ability for bothering leading competitors like Dao, shield or angel items are enough to defend against it. Given its long cooldown time, it has been deemed necessary to buff this skill to fulfill its designed role. Therefore, the cooldown time of the skill has been improved, allowing for more frequent usage.
  • Banana Hack (Kris):
    • The item selected to turn into a Banana will now be highlighted for the target on their screen. After a set amount of time, if the altered item has not been used, it will turn into bananas.
    • If the target hit by the skill does not possess any items, the attack will fail.
    • Defense items will be removed.
    • Skill cooldowns have been reduced for all ranks:
      • Common: 21s (Previously 26s)
      • Fine: 19.9s (Previously 25s)
      • Rare: 18.8s (Previously 24s)
      • Heroic: 17.7s (Previously 23s)
      • Legendary: 16.6s (Previously 22s)
    • Developer's Note: Kris's skill is designed to transform the opponent's items into bananas to hinder them. When the skill is activated, the opponents start getting hacked, and upon completion, one of their held items is changed into a banana item. However, due to the fact that you can use shield or angel items  for defense during hacking, Kris's skill has been utilized not only to change opponent's items but also to neutralize enemy shields or angels before using attacking items right after. This versatility made Kris too powerful and overlap with Sophia, necessitating adjustments. Now, Kris's skill selects the item to be transformed into a banana at the beginning of the hacking process. If there are no items available for transformation or if the selected item has been used before the hacking completes, the hacking will immediately fail. There is no need to defend with shield or angel items; simply using an item will abort the racer from hacking. Additionally, with the simplification of the deactivation, the cooldown time has been decreased.
  • Brodi's Boost Zone (Brodi):
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 19s, 9.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 9s)
      • Fine: 18.s, 9s after first use per race (Unchanged)
      • Rare: 17s, 8.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 8s)
      • Heroic: 16s, 8s after first use per race (Unchanged)
      • Legendary: 15s, 7.5s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 8s)
  • Help Me, Sweeper! (Tobi):
    • Skill description has been revised with more specific details.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 18s, 9s after first use per race (Previously 18s / 11s)
      • Fine: 17.1.s, 8.5s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 11s)
      • Rare: 16.2s, 8.1s after first use per race (Previously 16s / 10s)
      • Heroic: 15.3s, 7.6s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 10s)
      • Legendary: 14.4s, 7.2s after first use per race (Previously 14s / 9s)
  • Awful Avalanche (Vivi):
    • Skill hit animation has been slightly changed.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 22s (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 20.9s (Previously 21s)
      • Rare: 19.8s (Previously 20s)
      • Heroic: 18.7s (Previously 19s)
      • Legendary: 17.6s (Previously 18s)
  • Slippery Snowflake (Pim):
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 22s (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 20.9s (Previously 21s)
      • Rare: 19.8s (Previously 20s)
      • Heroic: 18.7s (Previously 19s)
      • Legendary: 17.6s (Previously 18s)
  • Old Money (Mayor Zipi):
    • If the defense is successful, the cooldown time will be reduced.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 15s, 7.5s after first use per race (Previously 16s / 8s)
      • Fine: 14.2.s, 7.1s after first use per race (Previously 15s / 8s)
      • Rare: 13.4s, 6.7s after first use per race (Previously 14s / 7s)
      • Heroic: 12.6s, 6.3s after first use per race (Previously 13s / 7s)
      • Legendary: 11.8s, 5.9s after first use per race (Previously 12s / 6s)
    • Developer's Note: Mayor Zipi's skill is a short-duration shield that can be used at precise moments during attacks. While it's thrilling to use the skill, it has been determined that the reward for success is too small compared to the difficulty involved. Therefore, the cooldown time has been slightly improved, and a new feature to decrease cooldown time by successful use of the skill. Now, if you got the hands for it, you can block more than ever.
  • Wave of Justice (Neo):
    • The racer hit by the Wave of Justice will now be able to use their booster immediately after landing.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 10s, 5s after first use per race (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 9.5s, 4.7s after first use per race (Previously 9s / 5s)
      • Rare: 9s, 4.5s after first use per race (Previously 8s / 4s)
      • Heroic: 8.5s, 4.2s after first use per race (Previously 7s / 4s)
      • Legendary: 8s, 4s after first use per race (Previously 6s / 3s)
    • Developer's Note: Neo's skill is a crowd control skill that knocks back opponents in the vicinity, based on a short cooldown. It has been deemed necessary to make adjustments because it was fun skill to use but a frustrating skill to get hit with. We considered adjustments such as increasing cooldown time, weakening knockback intensity, and also impacting the caster, but concerns were raised about compromising the essential fun of the skill. Therefore, the adjustment has been made in the direction of reducing the damage to hit Racers. Hit racers can use the booster immediately upon landing too. As a result, Racers hit by Neo's skill can return to the race more quickly, even after being hit.
  • Prettion Power (Tiera):
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 21s, 10.5s after first use per race (Previously 21s / 11s)
      • Fine: 19.9s, 9.9s after first use per race (Previously 20s / 11s)
      • Rare: 18.8s, 9.4s after first use per race (Previously 19s / 10s)
      • Heroic: 17.7s, 8.8s after first use per race (Previously 18s / 10s)
      • Legendary: 16.6s, 8.3s after first use per race (Previously 17s / 9s)
  • Explosive Butterflies (Lucid):
    • When used simultaneously with Siren, this skill will now be considered an attack.
    • Skill cooldowns are displayed in decimal units, and have been changed to:
      • Common: 28s (Unchanged)
      • Fine: 26.6s (Previously 27s)
      • Rare: 25.2s (Previously 26s)
      • Heroic: 23.8s (Previously 25s)
      • Legendary: 22.4s (Previously 24s)
Passive Skill Changes:
  • Competitive Spirit (Diz): The skill effect will now also activate upon being hit.
  • Fan Service (Rave): Skill description has been revised with more specific details.
  • Hydrophile (Martin): Skill description has been revised with more specific details.
  • Attack Reflection (Pink Bean): Skill activation animation has been slightly changed.
  • Water Bomb Bouquet (Airi): Airi will now start each race with a Water Bomb Bouquet equipped.
  • Breaking Through (Orion):
    • Skill description has been revised with more specific details.
    • Skill now also defends against Neo's "Wave of Justice" skill.
    • Skill Activation count has been reduced by 1 for all ranks:
      • Common: 10 Times (Previously 11)
      • Fine: 11 Times (Previously 12)
      • Rare: 12 Times (Previously 13)
      • Heroic: 13 Times (Previously 14)
      • Legendary: 14 Times (Previously 15)
    • Developer's Note: Orion's skill are designed to bypass barricades and Tobi's skill and charge forward. Designed as a suitable character for novice racers due to its ability to ignore certain obstacles, although the number of uses are limited. However, as the quantity of barricades placed on tracks during races are limited, it has been deemed necessary to provide additional buff. In order to address this issue, the skill now ignores of Neo's skill 'Wave of Justice,' which is one of the more challenging skills to deal with. This provides a good choice for novice racers who may not be familiar with item transformation or Neo's skill.
  • Boost Flex (Marid):
    • Skill driving time is reduced for all ranks:
      • Common: 30s (Previously 43s)
      • Fine: 29s (Previously 42s)
      • Rare: 28s (Previously 41s)
      • Heroic: 27s (Previously 40s)
      • Legendary: 26s (Previously 39s)
    • Developer's Note: Marid's skill automatically grants a booster at regular intervals, with the frequency increasing the further behind the first place racer falls. Compared to other characters who gain acceleration through their skills, Marid's skill is too insufficient to compete. To address this, adjustments have been made to allow Marid to acquire boosters more quickly in all sections of tracks.
  • Hydrophobic (Rena):
    • Skill Activations has been increased for all ranks:
      • Common: 8 Times (Previously 4)
      • Fine: 9 Times (Previously 5)
      • Rare: 10 Times (Previously 6)
      • Heroic: 11 Times (Previously 7)
      • Legendary: 12 Times (Previously 8)
  • Bombing Shell (Toto): Skill description has been revised with more specific details.
  • The icon animation for skills with limited activation counts has been slightly changed.
 [h2]Driving Changes[/h2]
  • The Traction System has been changed:
    • The bonuses to acceleration and maximum speed granted by the Traction System has been decreased.
    • Added a Refill System for Traction:
      • Once a Racer's distance from First Place exceeds a certain threshold, their automatic boost recharge will increase in proportion to the distance.
      • If they fall far enough behind, the Boost Gauge will charge even while boosting.
 
Game Modes and Matchmaking
[h2]Ranked Queue[/h2]
  • Ranked Queue MP amount has been adjusted:
    • It is now easier to acquire MP when there are large gaps in rank between you and Racers you are matched with.
    • Winning against AI racers will now earn a small amount of MP.
    • Racers that do not complete large portions of a track in Squad Mode will no longer earn MP, even if their team wins the race.
  • Improved matchmaking to make it more likely to be matched against a similarly-ranked Racer.
    • Note: If matchmaking wait times become long enough, the gap in ranks with matched Racers may increase.
 [h2]Item Mode[/h2]
  • The Seeker Missile has been added to Item Mode:
    • Seeker Missile: Locks onto and attacks the Racer in 1st Place.
  • Booster duration has been increased in Item Mode.
  • An in-game button guide has been added, and can be turned on/off in the [Settings - Gameplay - Display Button Guide ON/OFF] menu.
  • You can now use Select Item even if you have identical items.
 [h2]Continuous Matchmaking[/h2]
  • The Matching Stage now has a [Ready] button to let your group start the match faster:
    • If all Racers in the Matched Stage are ready, the race will begin immediately, ignoring the countdown timer.
    • This can be automatically toggled on in the [Settings - General - Matching] menu.
  • Adjusted the popup for not enough remaining Rematching Racers.
  • Upon requesting a rematch, Racers will now be moved to the Matching Stage faster.
  • Minimum number of Racers for a Rematch has been decreased to 2 (previously 4).
  • Rematching is no longer available in Solo mode.
 [h2]Mode Lab[/h2]
  • Upcoming Mode Lab schedule is as follows (all periods begin and end at 12:00 AM UTC):
    • Thursday, March 21st - Thursday, March 28th: Solo Crossover Mode
    • Thursday, March 28th - Thursday, April 4th: Squad Infinite Boost Mode
    • Thursday, April 4th - Thursday, April 11th: Squad Crossover Mode
    • Thursday, April 11h - Thursday, April 18th: Flag Mode
    • Thursday, April 18th - Thursday, April 25th: Solo Infinite Boost Mode
    • Thursday, April 25th - Thursday, May 2nd: Solo Crossover Mode
    • Thursday, May 2nd - Thursday, May 9th: Squad Infinite Boost Mode
    • Thursday, May 9th - Thursday, May 16th: Squad Crossover Mode
    • Thursday, May 16th - Thursday, May 23rd: Flag Mode
    • Thursday, May 23rd - Thursday, May 30th: Solo Infinite Boost Mode
    • Thursday, May 30th - Thursday, June 6th: Solo Crossover Mode
  • Character Skills are not available in Mode Lab.


This post is too long for Steam, see it in full on the official KartRider: Drift website!

[COMPLETE] Scheduled Maintenance - March 20



[Update 2:30 AM UTC MAR 3021 The maintenance has been completed. Thank you for your patience.

KartRider: Drift will undergo maintenance for 4 hours on March 20, starting at 3:30 PM PT.

Maintenance Duration:
  • PDT (UTC -7): 3:30 PM March 20 - 7:30 PM March 20
  • CET (UTC +1): 11:30 PM March 20 - 3:30 AM March 21
  • JST (UTC +9): 7:30 AM March 21 - 11:30 AM March 21
  • AEDT (UTC +11): 9:30 AM March 21 - 1:30 PM March 21
 
Note: Maintenance schedule is an estimate and subject to change.

Maintenance Details:
  • KartRider: Drift will be unavailable.
 
Changes and Updates:
  • The Northeu update will be released!
  • Added 10 new Northeu Tracks.
  • New "Personal Shop" Feature.
  • New Character Skills for characters without them, and changes to some existing Character Skills.
  • New "Whisper" feature for the Chat system.
  • New "Ready" button to the Matching Stage UI, which will begin the race once all Racers are "Ready".
  • Bug Fixes and Game Improvements.
  • Learn more about the Northeu update with the full Patch Notes!
 

Mar. 13 Surprise Lucci Coupon



While you wait for the next update, please enjoy a surprise 10,000 Lucci Coupon Code!

The Northeu cinematic teaser video is now uploaded on YouTube, so please check it out too!

Coupon Rewards:
  • 10,000 Lucci
 
Event Details:
  • Go to the Redeem Coupon page on the Nexon website or the in-game redemption function in the [Settings - Manage Account - Apply Coupon] menu.
    • Racers on iOS should use the Nexon Redeem Coupon page.
    • Make sure to login to a Nexon account linked to your KartRider: Drift account to claim the reward.
  • Enter the code "QMWCXTEF6Z27" to claim the reward!
  • Coupon can only be redeemed once per account, and cannot be redeemed after the coupon expires at 3:00 PM UTC on Sunday, March 31.
  • The reward is sent to the Garage immediately upon using the in-game redemption function in the [Settings - Manage Account - Apply Coupon] menu.
  • The reward is sent to the in-game mailbox upon using the Nexon Redeem Coupon page. Items sent to the in-game mailbox must be claimed within 30 days of receipt.
 

Dev Blog - March 2024 Update



Thank you to everyone who is enjoying KartRider: Drift and sharing their thoughts with us. We are always glad to receive your valuable feedback. There is still room for improvement, and we apologize for any shortcomings. We will continue to strive for a satisfying gaming experience for all of our Racers by continually improving based on your feedback.

In this Dev Blog, I would like to share the key details of the upcoming March 20th (PT) update. The main focus of the March update is the theme "Northeu", and expanding on the improvements from the RISE update.

Firstly, allow me to discuss the "Northeu" Theme. This update introduces 3 new Northeu Theme characters and 10 new tracks. All 3 new characters have their own unique skills that can be used in Item Mode, and we added eight classic Northeu Kartrider tracks, plus two brand new tracks that are exclusive to KartRider: Drift.

This new batch of tracks consists of 6 Common tracks and 4 Speed Mode tracks. As we previously stated, the direction going forward is to include a selection of Speed Mode tracks with each new release. Additionally, we are well aware that many Racers are eagerly awaiting the release of popular tracks from the original game’s "Normal Random" and "Hard Random" modes, and we will do our best to hurry and introduce these tracks to KartRider: Drift as soon as we can.

Next, let's move on to the Ranked Queue. We are aware that there were many issues with Ranked Queue upon its introduction to the game, and we sincerely apologize for those problems. While we addressed what we could in real-time as soon as possible, we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delayed response in other areas. These are the improvements the March update will bring to Ranked Queue.

Firstly, rematching will no longer be available in Solo Speed Mode and Solo Item Mode. We regret needing to restrict the rematch feature from solo play, but it has been observed that Racers would form alliances and assist each other during gameplay in ways that undermine the fairness of the game.

Furthermore, we think the fundamental cause of many Ranked Queue-related issues is because the earned scores were too low, and we are planning to lower the difficulty of earning Ranked Queue points to make it easier to climb the ranks. By introducing more precise matchmaking ratings and providing tracks with appropriate difficulty, we plan to continue making improvements aimed at ensuring fairness in matchmaking. We will adjust as quickly as possible to areas that can be hotfixed live, without time-consuming processes like platform reviews.

We are still closely studying and reviewing our data and we plan to make improvements so Racers can reach higher rank easily during the Ranked Queue.

We are also investigating the issue of players exploiting Win Streak Bonuses by disconnecting from the game, as identified earlier in the update. While it is our intention to promptly investigate and take action where necessary while providing updates through announcements, the analysis of matchmaking-related data is extensive, and determining the proper criteria to identify problematic behavior is not a simple task and is taking longer than we would like.

We are thoroughly analyzing the data from many perspectives to prevent any undeserved punishment (like banning). Based on the results, we plan to take appropriate action in accordance with our operational policies before the end of this Ranked Queue period. We apologize for the delay in the investigation. We strongly discourage any behavior that compromises the fairness of KartRider: Drift, and we assure you that appropriate action will be taken against those found to have engaged in blatant exploitation.

Now to UX/UI improvements. A "Ready" button is being added to the Matching Stage, which allows the race to start immediately once all Racers are ready, even if there is remaining waiting time.

We've also improved the Choose Track UI in Time Attack and Custom Races. You will be able to choose Track Themes via a filter, or use a Sorting function to find the Themes and Tracks you want to play more easily. We've aimed to quickly address some of the inconveniences experienced by our Racers with this improved UI, and we will continue to improve the Matching Stage and track-related UI to make it easier and faster to get into a Race.

In addition, shortcut keys for lobby settings and other stage buttons have been updated, along with improvements such as ensuring that game sounds are not audible when KartRider: Drift is in the background.

Next, let’s discuss game balancing. First, I would like to address the Item Mode character balance patch. As mentioned in the previous Dev Blog, we plan to conduct balancing adjustments with buffs for many characters’ skills. However, nerfs and broader structural changes of some skills are unavoidable. As mentioned many times before, we are trying our best so that even the nerfed characters are still fun to play and maintain their charm. If those characters were your favorites, we sincerely apologize and ask for your understanding. Please check out the Patch Notes for the detailed list of changes, which will be posted before the update.

Speed Mode will also be partially rebalanced. The towing acceleration system, which previously increased the following Racer’s speed based on the distance from the lead, had an issue where if the distance became too large, controlling the increased speed would become too difficult, resulting in counterproductive effects for novice Racers. Therefore we will partially decrease the towing acceleration, and are planning to add a new towing charge system.

With the new towing charge system, the booster will automatically charge as the distance grows larger, and we believe this will assist newer Racers who typically struggle with charging their boosters. We've designed it so it does not become too big of an advantage and result in negative effects for higher-ranking Racers, but since it is our first time adding this system, we will continue to adjust its balance afterward as well.

Finally, we have a few Shop improvements. Since there are many Racers who would like us to sell products that aren’t available anymore, we're adding a "Personal Shop" category where you can purchase selected products from the past. In Personal Shop, you will only see the products you do not own yet and they can be purchased using K-Coin or Mileage. More details will be released in the upcoming Patch Notes.

We hope you’re excited about the main contents of next week’s update. Thank you for waiting for this update once again, and I sincerely apologize for the schedule not meeting your expectations. We're trying our best to prepare the upcoming Northeu update and the subsequent content, and we hope they meet your expectations.

-Director Jaewoo Seo and the KartRider: Drift Team-