Nintendo released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch 2 that adds eight-player local split-screen multiplayer, up from the four-player limit in the original version. The update also includes support for the Switch 2's built-in camera, allowing players to see video feeds of each other during local and online matches. Loading times have been reduced and visual improvements are available when the console is docked with a 4K television.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe originally launched as a Wii U title in 2014 and was ported to the standard Nintendo Switch in 2017, where it remained in the US sales charts for most of that console's lifespan. The game has received numerous free updates and new track additions over nearly a decade of release. Switch 2 launched last year with Mario Kart World as its new racing title.
The Handheld Mode Boost feature previously allowed the game to output at 1080p resolution in portable mode. The new update appears to enable this performance natively rather than as an optional boost, according to Nintendo's documentation. Mario Kart World is bundled with recently revamped Switch 2 packages that now cost $50 more than the original bundles but include a three-month Nintendo Switch Online membership.