Nine years after it launched, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just got its biggest party trick yet: a free Nintendo Switch 2 update that lets eight players race on a single screen. Here is what changed in Version 4.0.0.
Eight racers, one console
The headline addition is support for five to eight players in local split-screen on a Switch 2. You can connect up to seven Switch controllers to the system, and to hit the full eight you need at least one Joy-Con 2 or a Switch 2 Pro Controller in the mix.
That turns a game already famous for couch chaos into a proper full-house party mode. Expect tiny screens and loud trash talk, but that is exactly the point.
Everything in the free update
The full Version 4.0.0 patch notes are out, and the changes go well beyond player count. Nintendo also used the update to make the game look and feel better on its newer hardware.
| Feature | What changed |
|---|---|
| Switch 2 display support | Sharper, clearer visuals on the Switch 2 screen and high-resolution TVs |
| Load times | Races and battles now start noticeably faster |
| Multiplayer | Split-screen now supports five to eight players on one system |
| CameraPlay | USB camera shows your face on screen during races |
| General balance | Racer speed up by the equivalent of one coin; Boo no longer slows you on offroad |
For Booster Course Pass owners, the VS Race rules also gain a 96 Races preset, a nod to the pass’s complete 96-course collection.
CameraPlay brings faces to the track
New CameraPlay support works with a USB camera sold separately. In local multiplayer and online play you can toggle it on so your face appears on screen during a race, and over the internet it runs inside a GameChat session so footage and mic audio only reach that call’s members.
What it means for Switch 2 owners in the Philippines
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was already one of the best reasons to own a Nintendo Switch 2, and this free update removes the biggest limit on living-room multiplayer. It also follows Nintendo’s pattern of refreshing big Switch titles for its new console, so owners who skipped the upgrade earlier now have one more reason to jump in.
The update is live now and costs nothing. If you host game nights, this is the excuse you have been waiting for to round up more controllers and friends.
