Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Just Got a Huge Switch 2 Upgrade

Nintendo's aging racer gets sharper visuals, faster loading, and support for up to eight players on one Switch 2.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe refuses to disappear. Just when Mario Kart World seemed ready to take over as Nintendo's main racing game on Switch 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received a surprisingly big update of its own. According to the sources, Nintendo has released version 4.0.0 as a free update for Switch 2.

It brings several improvements, including better visuals, shorter loading times, expanded local multiplayer, and even support for USB cameras. The visual upgrade is one of the more straightforward additions. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can now take advantage of high-resolution TVs when running on Switch 2, giving the game a cleaner and sharper appearance.

After years of playing the original Switch version, seeing those familiar tracks with improved image quality should make the game feel noticeably fresher. Nintendo is also cutting down loading times before races and battles. It might not sound like the most exciting feature, but anyone who has spent an evening playing Mario Kart with friends knows how quickly those little waits can become annoying. 

Then comes the really crazy part: eight-player multiplayer.

The Switch 2 version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports between five and eight players in local multiplayer. Nintendo says up to seven Switch controllers can be connected to the system, allowing eight people to race together. There is a catch. The setup requires at least one Joy-Con 2 or Switch 2 Pro Controller.

Still, getting eight people into a single Mario Kart race on one console is a pretty impressive addition. And honestly, what is more chaotic than eight people screaming at each other after someone gets hit by a Blue Shell? The update also adds camera support. With a compatible USB camera connected, players can use it during multiplayer matches with two to four players and in online modes.

When enabled, players' faces can appear during races. It is a strange little feature, but it fits perfectly with Mario Kart's party-game personality. Imagine someone overtaking you on the final corner while their face pops up on screen. That feels exactly like the kind of nonsense Mario Kart was built for.

The bigger story, though, is what this update does for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's value. Mario Kart World may be Nintendo's newer and more ambitious racer, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still has an enormous audience. According to the sources, the game has sold around 70 million copies, making it one of Nintendo's biggest successes.

A free Switch 2 update gives all those players another reason to dust off the game instead of leaving it sitting untouched after moving on to Mario Kart World. The eight-player mode could be especially useful for parties and family gatherings. One console, a pile of controllers and eight racers sounds like a recipe for complete chaos — in the best possible way.

Nintendo could have left Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an older Switch title running through backward compatibility. Instead, it has given the game a surprisingly substantial second life. Mario Kart World might be the new kid on the block, but with this update, is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe about to become the Switch 2's ultimate party racer?