Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Just Got a Brand-New Update for October 2026

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a new update on the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the game up to version 4.0.1. Released in 2017 shortly after the launch of Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has become one of the most successful video games of all-time. The game was a modest hit on Wii U, but it has found a significant audience on Switch, with more than 70 million copies sold. The game is still thriving nearly a decade later, and Nintendo continues to support it with new updates.

Mario Kart World was released as a launch title for Nintendo Switch 2, serving as a follow-up to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Generally, Nintendo tends to shift focus away from older Mario Kart games when a new one is released, but that has not been the case in the Switch 2 era. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe even got a Switch 2 update in September, adding new features such as shorter load times, 8-player split-screen multiplayer, and CameraPlay support.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Update Fixes Multiple Issues

While the previous Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update added new features, version 4.0.1 is all about bug fixes. Nintendo has resolved a couple of issues specific to those playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2, including a problem that players were encountering on Wii Rainbow Road. There are also some fixes that are not specific to either version, so those still playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the original Switch will also need to update to the latest software version.

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It’s unclear how long Nintendo will keep on supporting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but as long as the game continues to see a lot of interest from users, it makes sense for the company to offer the best possible experience. The reality is, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continued to sell long after launch, seeing huge interest well into the lifespan of the original Switch. Many of those owners haven’t made the jump to Mario Kart World, and Nintendo clearly wants to keep both of these audiences happy at the same time.

Some Switch 2 owners have been somewhat frustrated though, as there have been hopes for Mario Kart World to receive more racers and tracks. Nintendo has not been shy about embracing paid DLC, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received the Booster Course Pass a few years ago. Unfortunately, things have been pretty quiet when it comes to Mario Kart World, despite the fact that it’s been one of the biggest Switch 2 games thus far. It’s likely the lack of DLC for the game will eventually change, but Nintendo has offered no indication of when players can expect to see significant content released for the title.

For the time being, fans of both Mario Kart games will have to be happy with the tracks and racers that have been made available. Nintendo has somehow managed to keep both games thriving online, and it’s not difficult to find competition when jumping into a race. Hopefully, that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Ver. 4.0.1 Patch Notes

General

Fixed an issue where the number of obstacles or Item Boxes would increase during Online Play and Wireless Play on Nintendo Switch 2 compared to Nintendo Switch.
Fixed an issue where players could not select a user who is registered to the system when playing with two players for Online Play and Wireless Play.
Fixed an issue where some of the Star Bits would not be displayed when driving on Wii Rainbow Road on Nintendo Switch 2.
Fixed an issue where the game would close unexpectedly when certain conditions were fulfilled.