Nintendo just released a surprise update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s 71 million players, bringing all-new Switch 2 support to the 2017 kart racing game. The new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update brings some long-awaited features, including “clearer visuals” for the Nintendo Switch 2 screen and high-resolution TVs, as well as faster loading times. But Nintendo went further for the Switch 2 update of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing expanded split-screen multiplayer and something new for Booster Course Pass owners. According to Nintendo’s official patch notes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports up to eight players on a single screen on Switch 2, doubling the number of players possible in split screen on the original Nintendo Switch. Switch 2 owners can now connect up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers, either Joy-Cons or Switch Pro, for eight-player split-screen play. At least one Joy-Con 2 controller or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller is required for eight-player play. Suffice to say, having eight players on a single screen seems like absolute chaos. Image: Nintendo To add to that eight-player madness, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports CameraPlay on Switch 2. Elsewhere in the update, Nintendo also made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe faster. The player’s speed during races has increased by the equivalent of a coin. It’s time to revisit your time trials, Mario Kart 8 sick. And while eight-player split-screen sounds like a crazy number, Nintendo’s update has an even bigger digit to boast about: 96. Players who have access to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass can now play a “96 Race” endurance challenge in the game’s “VS Race” rules setting. This covers the 96 courses available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its six-part, 48-course DLC. Wild things. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launched for the original Nintendo Switch in April 2017, a month after the Switch launched. MK8 Deluxe is an updated version of Mario Kart 8, which was originally released for Wii U in 2014. Hopefully, Switch 2 owners can look forward to a similar decade of support for Mario Kart World, which could really use new content of its own. Read on for the official patch notes for the new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update. Mario Kart 8 deluxe version. Patch Notes 4.0.0 Nintendo Switch 2 System Support Added support for Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution televisions, allowing for clearer images. Reduced loading time before races and battles begin. Added support for 5 to 8 players in multiplayer. You can connect up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers (Joy-Con or Nintendo Switch Pro controllers) to the Nintendo Switch 2 system. To play with eight people, you need at least one Joy-Con 2 controller or one Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller. Support for CameraPlay has been added. A USB camera (sold separately) is required to use CameraPlay. Players can turn the camera on or off in multiplayer (2-4 players) and online play modes. In order to use a camera on the Internet, players must participate in a GameChat session. Camera footage and microphone audio will be sent to GameChat members only. When the camera is on, the player’s face is shown during the race. General Increased player speed during races by the equivalent of a coin. Players will not slow down while using Boo to turn invisible, even when entering an off-road area. Players with access to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will have “96 races” added to their “VS Race” rules settings. Nintendo made a fantastic Mario Kart, but a half-baked world. The series’ open-world movement is compromised, while the racing is as deep and joyful as ever.
