Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Update Adds 8-Player Split-Screen and Switch 2 Enhancements
- Nintendo has released a surprise version 4.0.0 software update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding a local eight-player split-screen multiplayer mode, visual enhancements, and shorter load times tailored...
- The update provides formal framework support for the newer console.
- The most prominent feature addition for Switch 2 users is local multiplayer support expanded from four players to eight.
Nintendo has released a surprise version 4.0.0 software update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding a local eight-player split-screen multiplayer mode, visual enhancements, and shorter load times tailored for the Nintendo Switch 2. Released on September 2, 2026, the new patch breathes fresh life into a game that originally debuted in 2017. While the Nintendo Switch 2 launched alongside a brand-new franchise entry in Mario Kart World, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the best-selling Switch game of all time, maintaining an active player base that has shown little urgency to move on.
Switch 2 Hardware Upgrades and Performance Boosts
The update provides formal framework support for the newer console. Switch 2 owners benefit from better utilization of system specifications and improved compatibility with high-resolution televisions, delivering clearer visuals for both racers and environments. Additionally, the hardware’s increased processing power significantly reduces load times for entering races and battles. These resolution and load-time improvements are exclusive to the Switch 2, whereas legacy Switch 1 owners receive general gameplay balance tweaks.
Expanding Local Split-Screen to Eight Players
The most prominent feature addition for Switch 2 users is local multiplayer support expanded from four players to eight. Up to seven additional controllers can connect to share the same screen simultaneously in an eight-player split-screen configuration. Because the hardware can connect a maximum of seven original Switch controllers at once, players must meet a specific hardware requirement. At least one connected device must be a Joy-Con 2 or a Switch 2 Pro Controller, while the remaining seven can be original Joy-Cons or Pro Controllers. Furthermore, the optional CameraPlay feature now supports USB cameras during online play and local multiplayer sessions. Camera-enabled local play caps out at four participants, meaning users can choose between eight racers or up to four active camera feeds, but cannot run both simultaneously.
Cross-Platform Balance Adjustments and Course Rotations
Beyond hardware-specific performance upgrades, the version 4.0.0 update introduces several gameplay adjustments that apply across both original Switch and Switch 2 consoles:
- All player speeds have been increased by the equivalent of one coin.
- The Boo item now grants immunity to speed reductions when driving offroad.
- Owners of the Booster Course Pass can now run VS Races utilizing all 96 courses in the full track rotation.
The update has inadvertently wiped out standing time trial world records within the community, sparking renewed competitive activity as players return to set new times.