Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is seemingly the game that Nintendo refuses to move on from. The racing game, originally released on the Wii U back in 2014 and then updated for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, has received what might be the greatest update for the game that could get players back on the track.
Nintendo on Tuesday unexpectedly dropped the version 4.0.0 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which adds a new eight-player, split-screen option when playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as CameraPlay support and support for higher-resolution TVs. It’s the new multiplayer option that has gone viral on social media, as gamers try to wrap their heads around playing an eight-player race on the Switch 2’s 7.9-inch screen.
While this split-screen mode can work on the Switch 2 in handheld mode, it’s clear that the new multiplayer option is designed for gamers to play with friends on a TV. It expands Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s multiplayer beyond the four-player limit it has had since launch. Instead, up to eight racers can play together, with each racer able to have their own individual Joy-Con, Switch Pro Controller or Switch 2 Pro Controller. Those who paid the $25 for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will also have access to all 96 courses in the VS Race multiplayer mode.
CameraPlay support was also added on Tuesday. This feature, which made its debut on the Switch 2, lets players connect a USB camera to their console during multiplayer and online matches so other players can see their faces while playing. Nintendo sells an official USB camera for the console, but there are many alternatives that work just as well.
Another welcome change in the update is shortened loading times when playing on the Switch 2. Players should notice it takes less time to start races and battles when playing.
This update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is part of Nintendo’s initiative to update its Switch games and optimize them for the Switch 2. On Monday, Pikmin 3 Deluxe received a similar update to match the resolution of the newer handheld console.
Tuesday’s update coincided with the Switch 2’s new price tag of $500. Nintendo announced the price jump of its newest console back in May, citing “changes in market conditions.”
Gaming hardware companies such as Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and Valve have had to deal with the rising costs of components, mainly memory and storage, in what’s been dubbed RAMaggeddon. So far, there’s no sign that the memory shortage driving these price increases will end anytime soon.
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