Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo’s best-selling Switch game of all time, has received a surprise free update for Nintendo Switch 2. Released on September 1st as Version 4.0.0, the update brings substantial enhancements to the nearly decade-old racer originally released in 2017, itself a port of a 2014 Wii U title.

The headline feature is support for up to eight players in local split-screen multiplayer, a significant jump from the previous four-player maximum. The update also adds CameraPlay functionality, allowing players to view gameplay with split-screen divided into segments for each participant. Beyond multiplayer improvements, Switch 2 versions benefit from sharper visuals, faster loading times, and increased player speed equivalent to “one coin” in-game currency.

This update represents Nintendo’s continued support for the evergreen racer, even as Mario Kart World prepares to challenge its market dominance. The free update exemplifies how Nintendo is leveraging Switch 2’s increased hardware capabilities to enhance legacy titles, similar to previous updates like Pikmin 3 Deluxe. The eight-player split-screen feature creates a notably compact visual experience on screen, but delivers a practical new way to enjoy the game with larger groups of friends.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game

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