Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Nintendo has released a surprise free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the headline feature being support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console. This doubles the previous local multiplayer limit of four players and marks a notable enhancement for a title still hugely popular nearly a decade after its original release, forming part of Nintendo's broader push to refresh its back catalogue for Switch 2 owners.
The update also brings improved image quality and faster loading times on Switch 2 hardware, plus support for GameShare and CameraPlay when playing with two to four people. Eight-player split-screen requires a Switch 2 console and at least one Joy-Con 2 or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Smaller tweaks include a "96 Races" custom match option for Booster Course Pass owners, a fix preventing slowdown when Boo steals items, and a small universal speed boost. The patch arrived alongside a similar free Switch 2 update for Pikmin 3 Deluxe and a smaller online-focused patch for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which did not receive Switch 2-specific enhancements.
- Sources
- 3
- Outlets
- 3
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports eight-player split-screen via free update
- Update also improves visuals, load times and adds GameShare/CameraPlay support
- Part of a wider wave of free Switch 2 updates for older Nintendo titles
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Nintendo has released a surprise free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the headline feature being support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console.
- 2 months ago Nintendo has released a surprise free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the headline feature being support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console.
- 2 months ago Nintendo has released a surprise free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the headline feature being support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console.
- 2 months ago Nintendo has released a surprise free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with the headline feature being support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console.
- 2 months ago Nintendo has released a surprise free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch 2, headlined by support for eight-player split-screen racing on a single console.
- GamesRadar+ Mario Kart 8's surprise Switch 2 update makes everyone faster "by the equivalent of one coin," decimating world records everywhere
- Nintendo Life Video: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Version 4.0.0 Side-By-Side Comparison (Switch 2 & Switch)
- Eurogamer Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game
Explained simply
Nintendo has released a free software update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a racing game originally launched on the Switch console in 2017 that remains one of the best-selling titles in the series. The update is designed to take advantage of Switch 2, Nintendo's newer console, and adds the ability for up to eight people to play split-screen on one machine, twice the previous limit.
The change fits a wider pattern of Nintendo enhancing existing Switch games for owners of the newer Switch 2 hardware, rather than always requiring a brand new title. Similar updates have recently been given to other established games, reflecting an approach of extending the life and value of the company's back catalogue.
This matters because Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a large, long-running player base, and split-screen multiplayer is a distinctive feature of the Mario Kart series, often used by families and friends playing together on a single console rather than online.
Coverage · 3 sources
- EurogamerMario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game
- GamesRadar+Mario Kart 8's surprise Switch 2 update makes everyone faster "by the equivalent of one coin," decimating world records everywhere
- Nintendo LifeVideo: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Version 4.0.0 Side-By-Side Comparison (Switch 2 & Switch)
Art Culture Entertainment Gaming Software Technology