Nintendo has released a surprise Nintendo Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, expanding the kart racer’s local split-screen mode to eight simultaneous players. The change lets a single display host larger groups of racers at once.
The release was described as a surprise, as first reported by CNET. It brings a Switch 2-focused development to an established Nintendo racing title whose appeal has long included getting several people into the same room.
Eight players can now race on one display
The expanded option covers simultaneous local multiplayer, meaning participants share the same screen rather than connecting from separate locations. That setup has been central to Mario Kart gatherings for decades, where races can quickly turn into short sessions between friends or family members.
Eight-player support raises the number of people who can join a single race without taking turns. For groups using the newer console in a living room or at a party, the update gives Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a larger role as a shared activity. The game is already a long-running entry in Nintendo’s Mario Kart series, so an upgrade to its local play matters more than a small patch for a newer, unproven release.
The Switch 2 update leaves key details unanswered
Nintendo included additional enhancements alongside the larger player count, though the available reporting does not identify them. The company also has not provided the update’s release date in the information available, and it remains unclear whether the changes are exclusive to Switch 2 or affect the original Switch edition as well. It is also unconfirmed whether eight-person sessions require extra hardware or accessories, an important detail for players planning to use the new mode.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
