Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has received a substantial Nintendo Switch 2 update, nine years after its original release. The upgrade improves presentation and loading, while adding a much larger local multiplayer mode for the game’s reported 71 million players.
Eight racers can now share one screen
The headline addition is support for five to eight players in local multiplayer on Nintendo Switch 2. That doubles the original Nintendo Switch limit for split-screen racing and creates a considerably busier race-day setup.
Players can connect as many as seven Nintendo Switch controllers, including Joy-Con controllers and Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers. To run an eight-player session, the console needs at least one Joy-Con 2 or one Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
The update also introduces CameraPlay. With a separately sold USB camera connected, players can switch the camera on or off in multiplayer modes for two to four players and in online play. When enabled, a player’s face appears during the race.
For online camera use, players must take part in a GameChat session. Nintendo says the camera feed and microphone audio are sent only to members of that GameChat session.
Sharper graphics, quicker starts and faster racing
Nintendo Switch 2 owners can expect clearer visuals on the console’s display and on high-resolution televisions. Race and battle loading times have also been reduced.
On-track speed has been raised by the equivalent of one coin, making this update relevant to anyone returning to time trials. There is also a gameplay adjustment for Boo: racers do not lose speed while becoming invisible, including when they move into an off-road section.
For more technical detail, see Nintendo’s official patch notes.
A 96-course endurance challenge
Owners of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass receive another reason to revisit VS Race. The update adds a “96 Races” option to the VS Race rules, covering every course in the base game and the six-part DLC.
That total includes the original 48 courses and all 48 tracks from the Booster Course Pass. It is an unusually long test for a game that already works well as a living-room multiplayer fixture—especially when combined with the new eight-player mode.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe keeps moving forward
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launched for Nintendo Switch in April 2017, one month after the console itself. It is an enhanced version of Mario Kart 8, which first appeared on Wii U in 2014.
For Australian players planning a dedicated multiplayer setup, the update’s biggest practical question may be screen space and controller access. Our arcade machine buying guide can help with broader game-room planning, while racing simulators offer another way to build a driving-focused entertainment area.
You can also browse the latest arcade news and gaming features or explore arcade machines for a dedicated home setup.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe version 4.0.0 highlights
Nintendo Switch 2 support
- Clearer visuals for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution televisions.
- Shorter loading times before races and battles.
- Support for five to eight players in multiplayer.
- Up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers can be connected to the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
- Eight-player sessions require at least one Joy-Con 2 or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
- CameraPlay support with a separately sold USB camera.
- CameraPlay can be enabled or disabled in two-to-four-player multiplayer and online play.
- Online camera use requires participation in a GameChat session; camera footage and microphone audio are shared only with GameChat members.
- When the camera is active, the player’s face is shown during the race.
General changes
- Racing speed has increased by the equivalent of one coin.
- Boo no longer causes a player to slow down while the player is invisible, even when entering an off-road area.
- Booster Course Pass owners receive the “96 Races” option in VS Race rules.
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