Mario Kart 8 Just Got a Game-Changing Update for Nintendo Switch 2

Nine years after launch, Nintendo can't stop updating Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo just dropped a surprise update for the 71 million players of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing brand-new Switch 2 support to the 2017 kart-racing game. The new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update brings some expected features, including "clearer visuals" for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs, as well as faster loading times.

But Nintendo went above and beyond for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Switch 2 upgrade, bringing expanded split-screen multiplayer and something new for Booster Course Pass owners.

According to Nintendo's official patch notes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports up to eight players on a single screen on Switch 2, doubling the number of players possible in split-screen on the original Nintendo Switch. Switch 2 owners can now connect up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers — either Joy-Cons or Switch Pro Controllers — to play eight-player split-screen. At least one Joy-Con 2 controller or a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is required for eight-player play.

Suffice it to say, having eight players on a single screen looks like absolute chaos.

To add to that eight-player madness, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports CameraPlay on Switch 2.

Elsewhere in the update, Nintendo has also made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe faster. Player speed during races has increased by the equivalent of one coin. Time to revisit your time trials, Mario Kart 8 sickos.

And while eight-player split-screen sounds like a wild number, Nintendo's update has an even bigger digit to boast about: 96. Players who have access to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass can now play a “96 Races” endurance challenge in the game's “VS Race” rule settings. That spans all 96 courses available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its six-part, 48-course DLC. Wild stuff.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released for the original Nintendo Switch in April 2017, a month after the Switch launched. MK8 Deluxe is an updated version of Mario Kart 8, which was originally released for Wii U in 2014. Hopefully, Switch 2 owners can expect a similar decade's worth of support for Mario Kart World, which could really use some new content of its own.

Read on for the official patch notes for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's new update.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Ver. 4.0.0 patch notes

Support for the Nintendo Switch 2 system

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs, allowing for clearer visuals.
• Shortened the loading time before races and battles begin.
• Added support for 5–8 players in Multiplayer. You can connect up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers (Joy-Con or Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers) to the Nintendo Switch 2 system. In order to play with eight people, you need at least one Joy-Con 2 controller or a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
• Added CameraPlay support. A USB camera (sold separately) is required to use CameraPlay. Players can turn camera ON or OFF in Multiplayer (2-4 players) and Online Play modes. In order to use a camera on the internet, players must participate in a GameChat session. The camera footage and microphone audio will be sent only to GameChat members. When the camera is ON, the player’s face is displayed during the race.

General

• Increased player speed during races by the equivalent of one coin.
• Players will not slow down while using Boo to become invisible, even when entering an offroad area.
• Players with access to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will have “96 Races” added to the “VS Race” rule settings.