Nintendo confirmed during a Nintendo Direct that Mario Kart World has received a substantial mid-2026 update.
Version 1.8.0, released on September 9, 2026, brings multiple Super Mario Kart (SNES) courses into VS Race, Time Trials, Online Play and Wireless Play, expands Knockout Tour content, and introduces a range of spectator and quality-of-life improvements for Nintendo Switch players.
Key additions and mode changes
- SNES tracks: Several Super Mario Kart courses are now selectable in VS Race, Time Trials, Online Play and Wireless Play, including SNES Mario Circuit 1–3, SNES Ghost Valley 1–3, SNES Choco Island 1–2, SNES Vanilla Lake 1 and SNES Koopa Beach 1.
Item panels replace item boxes on these courses, with the race that leads to Mario Circuit retaining item boxes.
- Knockout Tour: Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally have been added to the Knockout Tour rotation.
Players who have previously completed at least one rally in Knockout Tour can select these new events.
User interface and spectator tools
- Time Trials now display lap times and use a new color scheme for time comparisons: faster player times appear in red, slower in blue.
- Camera and spectator controls have been expanded: players can press Y to switch to the player-perspective camera while spectating or racing, and R to view participants’ real-time rankings when observing races or Knockout Tour.
- Spectator Mode is now available from the pause menu after joining a room in Online Play or LAN Play; this mode allows users to watch without participating.
- Room capacity has increased: up to 26 players can join a room, with up to 24 active participants in the game at once.
Additional users may join as spectators once the 24-player active limit is reached.
Gameplay balance and technical adjustments
- Developers adjusted item probabilities, slipperiness when covered in Blooper ink, rebound behavior for Green Shells, Coin Shells, fireballs, ice balls and Boomerangs, Thwomp recovery time, and Boo invulnerability after theft.
Auto-Use Item now functions even when Custom Items is enabled.
The update also makes it possible to see certain items opponents may be holding (for example Coin, ?
Block, Kamek, Blooper, Feather, Fire Flower, Ice Flower, Boomerang, Hammer).
Bug fixes
Version 1.8.0 addresses a broad set of issues, including corrected physics for swinging while jumping on rails, preventing players from becoming trapped after crashes, fixing a Free Roam map/pipe control issue, correcting Spiny Shell rail behavior, off-track respawn positions on select courses, Bullet Bill collisions in Bowser’s Castle, Feather collisions in Dandelion Depths, finish line visuals in Crown City, and ranking errors tied to Feather shortcuts on Mario Circuit.
The patch notes state additional minor fixes were implemented to improve overall gameplay stability.
Players can download Version 1.8.0 via the Nintendo eShop or through the game’s built-in update prompt on Nintendo Switch.
The full official patch notes were published alongside the update for reference.
Version 1.8.0, released on September 9, 2026, brings multiple Super Mario Kart (SNES) courses into VS Race, Time Trials, Online Play and Wireless Play, expands Knockout Tour content, and introduces a range of spectator and quality-of-life improvements for Nintendo Switch players.
Key additions and mode changes
- SNES tracks: Several Super Mario Kart courses are now selectable in VS Race, Time Trials, Online Play and Wireless Play, including SNES Mario Circuit 1–3, SNES Ghost Valley 1–3, SNES Choco Island 1–2, SNES Vanilla Lake 1 and SNES Koopa Beach 1.
Item panels replace item boxes on these courses, with the race that leads to Mario Circuit retaining item boxes.
- Knockout Tour: Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally have been added to the Knockout Tour rotation.
Players who have previously completed at least one rally in Knockout Tour can select these new events.
User interface and spectator tools
- Time Trials now display lap times and use a new color scheme for time comparisons: faster player times appear in red, slower in blue.
- Camera and spectator controls have been expanded: players can press Y to switch to the player-perspective camera while spectating or racing, and R to view participants’ real-time rankings when observing races or Knockout Tour.
- Spectator Mode is now available from the pause menu after joining a room in Online Play or LAN Play; this mode allows users to watch without participating.
- Room capacity has increased: up to 26 players can join a room, with up to 24 active participants in the game at once.
Additional users may join as spectators once the 24-player active limit is reached.
Gameplay balance and technical adjustments
- Developers adjusted item probabilities, slipperiness when covered in Blooper ink, rebound behavior for Green Shells, Coin Shells, fireballs, ice balls and Boomerangs, Thwomp recovery time, and Boo invulnerability after theft.
Auto-Use Item now functions even when Custom Items is enabled.
The update also makes it possible to see certain items opponents may be holding (for example Coin, ?
Block, Kamek, Blooper, Feather, Fire Flower, Ice Flower, Boomerang, Hammer).
Bug fixes
Version 1.8.0 addresses a broad set of issues, including corrected physics for swinging while jumping on rails, preventing players from becoming trapped after crashes, fixing a Free Roam map/pipe control issue, correcting Spiny Shell rail behavior, off-track respawn positions on select courses, Bullet Bill collisions in Bowser’s Castle, Feather collisions in Dandelion Depths, finish line visuals in Crown City, and ranking errors tied to Feather shortcuts on Mario Circuit.
The patch notes state additional minor fixes were implemented to improve overall gameplay stability.
Players can download Version 1.8.0 via the Nintendo eShop or through the game’s built-in update prompt on Nintendo Switch.
The full official patch notes were published alongside the update for reference.
