Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Drops Eight-Player Splitscreen in Surprise Update for Switch 2
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Nintendo has released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch 2, adding an eight-player splitscreen mode alongside enhanced visuals, faster load times, and a face-cam feature called CameraPlay.
Couch co-op just got a massive upgrade. IGN South Africa reports that Nintendo has released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the upcoming Switch 2, introducing a wild eight-player splitscreen mode that carves the display into eight individual portrait windows. The new mode requires eight controllers and plenty of living room seating, turning standard game nights into full-scale local tournaments without the need for multiple consoles or online lobbies.
The update does more than just expand the player count. Players on Switch 2 will also benefit from enhanced visuals and significantly shorter load times, keeping the action moving at a rapid pace. For sessions with two to four players, the update introduces CameraPlay, a feature that overlays your friends' faces directly onto the screen while you race, leaning into the kind of streaming and social energy that dominates modern multiplayer gaming.
This unexpected refresh proves that Nintendo is still finding ways to squeeze new life out of its powerhouse racer, which recently earned a spot in IGN's celebration of racing game masterpieces. For a game that has anchored countless social gatherings across multiple hardware generations, this update doubles down on the local multiplayer experience that made the franchise a household name in the first place.
Tags: Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart, Couch Co-op, Console Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa