Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets Surprise Switch 2 Update Featuring Eight-Player Split-Screen
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Nintendo just released a major update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch 2, adding eight-player split-screen, faster load times, and a massive 96-race endurance mode.
Nintendo has dropped a massive surprise update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing fresh features to the 2017 kart racer to support the Nintendo Switch 2. According to patch notes highlighted by Polygon, version 4.0.0 introduces high-resolution visuals, faster loading times, and a permanent baseline speed boost equivalent to carrying one extra coin. It is a striking level of ongoing support for a game that has spanned nearly a decade across multiple console generations.
The standout addition is expanded local multiplayer, with the Switch 2 now supporting up to eight players on a single screen. Achieving eight-player split-screen requires mixing standard controllers with at least one new hardware input like a Joy-Con 2 or Switch Pro Controller, alongside new features like CameraPlay support via a USB attachment. For dedicated groups who still prefer couch co-op over online lobbies, it turns standard game nights into absolute chaos.
For solo grinders and endurance racing fans, the update also introduces a massive 96-race VS mode challenge for owners of the Booster Course Pass. By stitching together every base track and DLC course into one marathon playlist, Nintendo is giving hardcore community members a brand-new mountain to climb. It is a great win for players who treat the title as a social staple, proving that older digital libraries still have plenty of life left as hardware evolves.
Tags: Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo, Local Multiplayer
Original article: Polygon