Mario Kart 8 is easily one of Nintendo’s longest-supported titles, with the 2014 Wii U original receiving plenty of DLC at the time, followed by a Switch 1 Deluxe Edition in 2017 and its Booster Course Pass in 2022-23. Despite its successor (MK World) being in its second year on the market, Nintendo has released a surprise Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In an unexpected move, Nintendo announced and released a dedicated Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Listed as version 4.0.0, the patch brings in a bunch of welcome and surprise enhancements, including:

• Higher resolution output on Switch 2 and external displays
• Reduced loading times
• Local split-screen support for up to 8 players
• Switch 2 CameraPlay functionality
• Overall player speed increased by the equivalent of one Coin
• Boo power-up no longer slows you down
• New ‘96 Race’ challenge option

It is worth noting that this update is available on both the OG Switch as well as the Switch 2. That said, the main additions – being the 8-player split-screen and higher resolution – are understandably locked to Nintendo’s current-gen system.

Regardless, it is interesting to see Nintendo still occasionally updating Mario Kart 8 Deluxe despite the fact that MK World currently stands as THE Mario Kart experience for Switch 2. Hopefully the aforementioned Mario Kart World sees just as much support over the course of the Switch 2’s life (and perhaps beyond).

KitGuru says: What do you think of this update? Does Nintendo’s lack of consistency with updates bother you? Are you disappointed in the fact that 4-player split-screen does not run at 60fps on Switch 2? Let us know down below.