Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

84 / 100RacingArcadeApril 28, 2017

Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses. Play locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track from the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious return. Plus, the Inklings appear as all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.!

Nintendo Switch

Mario KartNintendo Switch 2Split-Screen

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets Free Switch 2 Update With 8-Player Split-Screen

Nintendo has surprised fans with a free Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the long-reigning champion of couch multiplayer, adding a headline feature that players have long dreamed about: eight-player local split-screen racing. The patch, released on September 2, 2026, lets up to eight players compete simultaneously on a single screen, taking the game's already chaotic party appeal to an entirely new level. This is a significant leap beyond the four-player split-screen that has been the series standard for years.

5d ago

Nintendo Switch 2Backward CompatibilityMario Kart

Nintendo Switch 2 Compatibility Updates: Mario Kart, Pikmin 3, and Metaphor

Nintendo is continuing its push to bring first-party and third-party titles up to speed on the Switch 2, with a wave of updates and announcements landing in early September 2026. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received a headline-grabbing patch that adds Switch 2-specific features, including 8-player split-screen multiplayer and a mammoth 96-course VS Race marathon mode, making one of the best-selling games of all time feel fresh again on the new hardware. Meanwhile, Pikmin 3 Deluxe quietly became the 18th first-party Switch game to receive a free Switch 2 update, bringing improved visuals and GameShare support to Olimar's colorful adventure.

6d ago