Ethan Crossfield 
Nintendo’s newest console already has Mario Kart World as its headline racing game, but the company is still investing in the previous entry. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, originally released in 2017 and still the best-selling Switch game, has received an update that improves its Switch 2 version while adding a notable local multiplayer option.
Eight racers can now share one local session
The biggest change is the expansion of local multiplayer from four players to eight. That makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe better suited to crowded gatherings, even if fitting eight racers onto one screen may make the action difficult to follow. The option itself is valuable, particularly for a game whose appeal has long extended beyond solo play and online competition.
There is one hardware limitation. A Switch 2 can connect only seven original Switch controllers at once, meaning an eight-player setup must include at least one Switch 2 Pro Controller or pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers. The update therefore supports eight local racers, but players will need the right combination of hardware to use the full capacity.
Switch 2 improvements go beyond player count
On Switch 2, the game now loads more quickly and displays at a higher resolution on both the console’s built-in screen and connected televisions. These changes do not alter the core racing systems, but they should make the older release feel more at home on Nintendo’s newer hardware.
The update also adds USB camera functionality to Online Play and local Multiplayer. Camera-enabled local sessions remain limited to four players, so the new camera feature cannot be combined with the full eight-player local format. For players who use CameraPlay, however, this provides another way to bring a social element into races.
Several balance and course options reach Switch players too
Some changes are not exclusive to Switch 2. The update increases every player’s speed by an amount equivalent to one coin, while the Boo item now prevents slowdown even when a racer is driving off-road. These adjustments affect the game’s general feel and apply to the Switch 1 version as well.
Players who own the Booster Course Pass receive a larger Versus Race option, with support for up to 96 courses. That gives longer-running local or solo sessions more variety and makes the additional course content a more substantial part of the game’s racing menu. The update is available now.
Key points
- Local multiplayer on Switch 2 now supports up to eight racers.
- Eight-player sessions require at least one Switch 2 controller because only seven Switch 1 controllers can connect.
- Switch 2 gains shorter loading times, higher resolution, and USB camera support.
- Switch 1 also receives speed, Boo item, and Booster Course Pass updates.
Update features by version
| Version | Confirmed additions and changes |
|---|---|
| Switch 2 | Up to eight local players, shorter loading, higher resolution, and USB camera support |
| Switch 1 and Switch 2 | Faster player speeds, revised Boo behavior, and up to 96 Versus Race courses with the Booster Course Pass |
| Camera-enabled local play | USB camera support, limited to four players |
Expert View
The update suggests Nintendo is treating Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an active part of its Switch 2 ecosystem rather than abandoning it immediately for Mario Kart World. That matters for the community: the older game remains a familiar multiplayer platform, while these upgrades give existing owners a practical reason to keep returning. It also shows how local play can remain a meaningful differentiator even as Nintendo’s flagship racing series moves to new hardware.
