Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just got a big update. Here’s how to install Version 4.0.0, check your game version, and see what’s new on Switch 2.
If you fired up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this week and noticed something felt… different, you’re not imagining things. Nintendo just rolled out a fresh update, and it’s a bigger deal than your average patch. This isn’t just a handful of bug fixes tucked away in the background — it’s a genuine feature drop that gives one of the best-selling Switch games of all time a proper Switch 2 makeover.
Whether you’re trying to figure out what changed, wondering if you’re even running the latest version, or just want the update installed without any headaches, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find everything you need: what’s new, how to update, what to do if the download won’t cooperate, and a quick look back at how far this game has come since launch.
What’s the Latest Version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Right Now?
As of writing, the latest version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Ver. 4.0.0, released on September 1, 2026. It’s available for anyone playing on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, or the newer Nintendo Switch 2.
Here’s the quick rundown:
- Version number: 4.0.0
- Release date: September 1, 2026
- Who it’s for: All Switch consoles, with bonus features unlocked specifically on Switch 2
- Cost: Free — this is a standard software update, not paid DLC
You can confirm which version you’re on at any time. From the HOME Menu, highlight the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe icon (don’t launch the game), then press the + or – button on your controller. The version number shows right under the game’s title. If it doesn’t say 4.0.0, you’ve got an update waiting.
One thing worth flagging early: this update matters even if you have zero interest in the new features, because all players in a race need to be on the same version to play together, according to Nintendo’s official update guide. If your friend has updated and you haven’t, don’t be surprised if you can’t join their lobby.
Everything New in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 4.0.0 Update
So what exactly did Nintendo pack into this release? Quite a lot, actually — and most of it centers around giving the game new life on Switch 2 hardware.
Your Race Just Got a Switch 2 Glow-Up
If you’re playing on a Nintendo Switch 2, this update brings native support for the console’s display, including compatibility with high-resolution TVs. In practical terms, that means noticeably clearer visuals during races — sharper tracks, cleaner character models, the whole picture just looks crisper than it did on the original Switch.
Alongside the visual bump, Nintendo also trimmed down loading times before races and battles begin. It sounds like a small thing, but if you’ve ever sat through Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s loading screens waiting to get into a match, you’ll notice the difference immediately.
Eight Players, One Screen — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Goes Full Chaos on Switch 2
This is easily the headline feature of the update, and it’s a genuinely new capability rather than a tweak. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports 5 to 8 players in local multiplayer — but only on Switch 2.
Here’s how the math works: you can connect up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers (Joy-Con or Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers) to a Switch 2 console. But to actually reach eight players, at least one of those controllers needs to be a Joy-Con 2 or a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — the older controller generations alone will cap you at seven.
Realistically, splitting a TV screen eight ways is going to be a visually busy experience, and finding eight people (plus enough controllers) in one room isn’t something most players will do every day. But for game nights, family gatherings, or just bragging rights, this quietly makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the local multiplayer champion of the Mario Kart lineup — doubling what Mario Kart World currently offers in split-screen.
Say Cheese — CameraPlay Support Has Arrived
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now supports CameraPlay, a feature that lets you see other racers’ actual faces displayed above their character during a race, using a connected USB camera (sold separately — it’s not included).
CameraPlay works in a couple of different contexts:
- Local multiplayer (2–4 players): You can toggle the camera on or off per player.
- Online play: To use CameraPlay over the internet, you’ll need to be in an active GameChat session. Camera footage and microphone audio are only shared with the other members of that GameChat session — not broadcast to random online opponents.
This brings Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in line with Mario Kart World, which already had CameraPlay support since launch. If you’ve used it in Mario Kart World, the experience here will feel familiar.
If you don’t already own a camera, you’ve got options. Nintendo’s own Nintendo Switch 2 Camera retails for around $54.99 and is the safest bet if you want guaranteed compatibility, since you can verify any USB-C camera through the Test USB Camera feature under System Settings > Controllers & Accessories. Third-party alternatives — including officially licensed options like the HORI USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 — are also widely available at various price points if you’d rather shop around before committing to the first-party version.
Worth noting: CameraPlay itself is never required to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s purely an optional layer on top of the racing — a fun extra for group play, not something that gates any part of the game.
The Small Tweaks You’ll Actually Notice on Track
Beyond the headline Switch 2 features, Nintendo snuck in a few gameplay adjustments that affect every player, regardless of console:
- A speed bump: Player speed during races has increased, roughly equivalent to picking up one coin’s worth of boost.
- Boo got a buff: When you use Boo to turn invisible, you’ll no longer slow down — even if you drive through an offroad area while invisible.
- More races for Booster Course Pass owners: If you own the Booster Course Pass, you’ll now see a “96 Races” option added to the VS Race rule settings, letting you cycle through every track the DLC has added.
None of these are massive changes on their own, but together they make races feel just a touch snappier — and the Booster Course Pass addition is a nice bonus for anyone who’s bought into all the DLC waves over the years.
How to Update Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Step by Step
Good news: updating is almost entirely automatic if your console is set up correctly. But if you’d rather trigger it manually — or your system isn’t auto-updating for some reason — here’s exactly how to do it.
- Connect your console to the internet. This works the same whether you’re on a Nintendo Switch 2 or an original Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t set up Wi-Fi yet, head to System Settings > Internet to connect to your home network first.
- Go to the HOME Menu and select the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe icon — but don’t launch it. Just highlight the icon with the cursor.
- Press the + or – Button on your controller. This opens a small menu with options for the selected game.
- Select Software Update, then choose Via the Internet. The console will check for available updates and begin downloading if one exists.
- Confirm the new version number. Once the download finishes and installs, go back to the HOME Menu, highlight the game icon again, and press + or – to double-check it now reads Ver. 4.0.0.
A couple of things to keep in mind while you’re at it:
- If your console’s Auto-Update Software setting is turned on (it usually is by default) and you’re connected to the internet, this update should download in the background without you lifting a finger.
- Make sure you’ve got enough free space on your system memory or microSD card before updating. If storage is tight, you’ll need to free some up first — deleting unused screenshots, old software, or moving files to a microSD card usually does the trick.
- Your save data carries over automatically — updating never wipes your progress, unlocks, or Time Trial ghosts.
- Updating won’t cost you anything and doesn’t require a paid subscription on its own, though you will need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to actually use the game’s online features once you’re updated.
Update Stuck or Won’t Download? Here’s How to Fix It
Every so often, an update refuses to cooperate — the download bar sits frozen, or the system says there’s nothing to install even though you know there’s a newer version out. If that’s happening to you, work through these steps in order.
- Double-check your storage space. This is the single most common culprit. If your system memory or microSD card is full, the update has nowhere to go. Free up space and try again.
- Test your internet connection. A weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal can cause downloads to stall or fail outright. Try moving your console closer to your router, or switch to a different network if you have one available.
- Restart your console and try again. It sounds almost too simple, but a full power cycle clears out a surprising number of temporary glitches. Fully power down the console (not just sleep mode), wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and retry the update.
- Manually trigger the update instead of waiting for auto-update. Follow the step-by-step process above rather than relying on the background auto-update — sometimes forcing it manually gets things moving.
- Check Nintendo’s server status. Occasionally the holdup isn’t on your end at all — Nintendo’s servers can experience temporary outages, especially right after a major release when demand spikes.
- Reach out to Nintendo Support directly if none of the above works. They can walk you through more advanced troubleshooting, including system storage diagnostics.
If you’ve been digging through Reddit threads looking for answers on this, you’re not alone — stalled downloads and stuck progress bars are a recurring topic there, and storage space or connection issues are behind the vast majority of reported cases.
A Quick Trip Down Memory Lane: Past Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Updates
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been getting steady support for years now, which is part of why it’s held onto its crown as the best-selling entry in the series. A few highlights from its update history:
- Booster Course Pass rollout: Across multiple waves, Nintendo added 48 remastered tracks from past Mario Kart games and other Nintendo titles, eventually bringing the total track count to 96.
- 2022 updates: This period brought quality-of-life additions like Custom Items settings, letting players fine-tune exactly which items appear during races, plus new DLC waves and characters.
- Version 3.0.x fixes: These smaller point updates cleaned up specific bugs — things like ghost data upload issues on certain tracks and syncing problems between background music and Time Trial ghosts.
If you want the full blow-by-blow of every update since launch, Nintendo maintains an official update history page — worth bookmarking if you’re the type who likes to know exactly what changed and when.
Why the Booster Course Pass Tracks Feel So Familiar
If you’ve ever noticed that a lot of the Booster Course Pass tracks feel like they came from somewhere else first, that’s because they did. Nearly all of the DLC courses in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe originated in Mario Kart Tour, the mobile spin-off that launched back in 2019. Nintendo has confirmed via its Mario Kart Tour Service Discontinuation notice that Mario Kart Tour will officially shut down on September 30, 2026, ending roughly seven years of service, and with it, sales of the game’s premium currency and Gold Pass subscription have already been discontinued.
The silver lining for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe players: none of that mobile content disappears from your Switch library. Every track Tour contributed has already made its way into the Booster Course Pass, meaning the version of Mario Kart Tour that matters most — its courses — lives on permanently in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, playable offline, online, and now as part of that same “96 Races” rotation the 4.0.0 update just unlocked for pass owners.
Still on Wii U? Here’s How to Update Mario Kart 8
If you’re playing the original Mario Kart 8 on Wii U rather than the Deluxe version on Switch, updating works a bit differently — and it’s worth knowing the reality of where things stand.
To update on Wii U, connect your console to the internet, return to the Wii U Menu, and launch Mario Kart 8. If a system update is available, it should download and install automatically, or prompt you to do so, as outlined in Nintendo’s Wii U update instructions.
The important caveat: online play and other functionality relying on internet communication ended for Wii U software back in April 2024. So while updating still works for accessing previously purchased DLC or applying the last available patch, you won’t be able to race online anymore on this version. If online multiplayer matters to you, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch (or Switch 2) is really the only path forward at this point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe software update right now?
Yes. The most recent update is Ver. 4.0.0, released September 1, 2026, bringing Switch 2 enhancements, 8-player local multiplayer, and CameraPlay support.
What is the latest version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
Ver. 4.0.0 is the current version as of this writing. You can confirm your own version by highlighting the game icon on the HOME Menu and pressing + or –.
How do I update my Nintendo Switch to the latest system version?
That’s a separate update from the game itself — you’ll want to check your console’s system firmware under System Settings > System > System Update, in addition to updating the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe software.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to update the game?
No, downloading and installing the update itself is free and doesn’t require a subscription. You will need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to use the game’s online features once you’re updated.
What’s new in the Booster Course Pass?
The Booster Course Pass has added 48 additional tracks across multiple waves, bringing the total number of courses in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to 96. With the 4.0.0 update, players who own the pass now have a dedicated “96 Races” option in the VS Race rule settings.
Will updating delete my save data?
No. Your save data, unlocks, and Time Trial ghosts remain fully intact after updating — Nintendo explicitly preserves this data through the update process.
Can I still play online with someone on an older version?
No. All players need to be on the same software version to play together, whether locally or online. If you’re having trouble joining a friend’s lobby, updating to match their version is usually the fix.
Final Lap
It’s not every day that a game closing in on its ninth year gets a genuine feature update rather than just a maintenance patch — but that’s exactly what Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just received. Between the Switch 2 visual boost, the new 8-player split-screen chaos, and CameraPlay bringing it in line with Mario Kart World, this update gives longtime players a real reason to jump back in.
Updating itself takes just a few minutes if your connection and storage are in good shape, and the steps above should get you sorted whether you’re doing it manually or troubleshooting a stuck download.
Have you tried the new 8-player split-screen yet, or gotten CameraPlay working with your crew? Drop a comment and let us know how it went — and if you run into any update issues we didn’t cover here, ask away below.
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