Nintendo adds eight-player splitscreen to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo has rolled out a Switch 2 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that adds eight-player splitscreen.

It’s a surprise announcement to see a major new feature being added to a nearly 10-year-old original Switch game, but it makes sense, given that the racer is one of Nintendo’s biggest hits with over 70 million copies sold to date. It’s also a smart way to take advantage of the more powerful Switch 2 to expand from the base four-player splitscreen cap.

Also added in this new Switch 2 update is support for CameraPlay, which means that those with a compatible USB camera can have their real-time faces show up in-game above their racers. And finally, Nintendo says the Switch 2 version now offers “sharper visuals” and improved load times.

Of course, it should be noted that the Switch 2 also has an exclusive Mario racer, Mario Kart World. That game got an update in June that added new routes to its Knockout Tour mode and new Photo Mode stickers.

Image credit: Nintendo