Nintendo has released a major free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing several Nintendo Switch 2 enhancements to the 2017 racer. Version 4.0.0 adds support for up to eight players on a single Switch 2 system, CameraPlay functionality, clearer visuals, shorter loading times and a new 96-race option for players who own the Booster Course Pass.
The expanded local multiplayer support is one of the biggest additions. Nintendo says five to eight players can now compete in Multiplayer mode on a single Switch 2, with up to seven original Nintendo Switch controllers able to connect to the system. An eight-player setup requires at least one Joy-Con 2 controller or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller alongside the other connected controllers.
CameraPlay has also been added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch 2. Players can connect a compatible USB camera and display their faces in-game while racing, with the feature available locally for two to four players. CameraPlay also works during Online Play through GameChat, although Nintendo notes that a GameChat session is required when using a camera over the internet.
Switch 2 players will also see technical improvements from the update. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports the Switch 2 display and higher-resolution televisions for clearer visuals, while loading times before races and battles have been reduced. Nintendo has not described the visual upgrade as a full remaster, but the changes allow the existing Switch release to make better use of the newer console’s hardware.
Version 4.0.0 also makes changes that affect the racing itself. Nintendo has increased player speed during races by the equivalent of collecting one additional coin, effectively making the overall pace slightly faster. The update also changes Boo behavior so players using the item to become invisible will no longer slow down when entering off-road terrain.
Another notable addition is aimed at players who own the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. A new “96 Races” setting has been added to the VS Race rules, allowing players to run through the entire expanded track lineup in a single marathon session. The option reflects the size the game eventually reached after Nintendo added 48 additional courses through the Booster Course Pass on top of the original selection.
The update arrives more than nine years after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe first launched for Nintendo Switch in April 2017. Despite the release of Mario Kart World alongside Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo is continuing to support its predecessor rather than leaving it limited to basic backward compatibility. Version 4.0.0 is particularly substantial compared with the maintenance-focused patches Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has received in recent years.
Nintendo’s decision to add eight-player split-screen also gives the older game a local multiplayer option that is unusual for a single-console setup. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe previously supported up to four players on one Switch in split-screen, meaning the new Switch 2 functionality effectively doubles that limit when enough controllers are available. It gives larger groups another way to play without requiring multiple consoles and copies of the game.
The CameraPlay addition similarly brings Mario Kart 8 Deluxe closer to Nintendo’s newer Switch 2 software features. When enabled, camera footage can appear during gameplay so players can see reactions from other racers, while GameChat handles the online implementation. Nintendo specifies that CameraPlay itself is limited to certain multiplayer configurations even though eight-player racing is supported separately.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe version 4.0.0 was released on September 1, 2026 and is available as a free update. The Switch 2-specific improvements require Nintendo’s newer console, while the general gameplay adjustments, including the speed and Boo changes, form part of the wider update. With eight-player local racing, CameraPlay and a 96-race marathon option now included, Nintendo has delivered one of the game’s most substantial updates years after its original release.
