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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

mario kart 8 deluxe sales popularity

Mario Kart 8 has seen the longest tale of any entry in the series, with support for the game continuing eight years after the initial release on Wii U (and five years after Switch) through the recently announced Booster Course Pass. Producer Kosuke Yabuki recently spoke to Japanese outlet Nikkei about the game, admitting the team didn’t anticipate the incredible sales of Deluxe for Switch. He believes the breadth of its appeal was likely a big contributing factor, as well as the fact that the Joy-Con make every Switch a potential 2-player console.

We’ve prepared a translation of Yabuki’s full comments below.

System: Switch
Release date: March 18, 2022
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo


Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold roughly a bajillion copies since it launched on Switch back in 2017 (and that’s on top of the sales of the original Wii U version), so I had been hoping for years that the game would receive some new content at some point in its life, but it was never a guarantee. Finally, though, that moment is here: this week marks the arrival of eight new courses in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of a new DLC pack that Nintendo promises will eventually result in 48 (!) new courses being added to the game by the end of 2023. So how do the new tracks fare so far – and will these new courses be enough to get the community excited about Mario Kart again?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 2.0.0 patch notes

Following the release of the 2.0.0 update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo has gone live with the official patch notes.

It goes without saying here that the main highlight is the inclusion of the first wave of tracks for the Booster Course Pack. Nintendo also mentions other adjustments and fixes.

The full patch notes for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe version 2.0.0 update are as follows:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC

Following a new datamine, fans seem to have discovered some of the future tracks planned for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC.

Nintendo released the big 2.0.0 update for its Switch racer earlier today. After pouring through all of the files, one noteworthy image in particular was discovered. It’s an updated version of the DLC banner we’ve seen a number of times before, but now with environments of several tracks that hadn’t been announced previously.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC wave 1 trailer

The promotion for wave 1 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC continues, as Nintendo has just published a new trailer. Additionally, we have a Japanese commercial. Both provide looks at the newly added (or remastered) tracks.

Below are both videos:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Pass DLC graphics comparison

Thanks to GameXplain, we have a new graphics comparison video for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC.

The footage shows off all of the included tracks in the first wave compared to their original counterparts. Paris Promenade (Tour), Toad Circuit (3DS), Choco Mountain (N64), Coconut Mall (Wii), Tokyo Blur (Tour), Shoom Ridge (3DS), Sky Garden (GBA), and Ninja Hideaway (Tour) are included here.

Here’s the full Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC graphics comparison video:

mario kart 8 deluxe booster course pass wave 1 gameplay

Gameplay has come in of every track included in the first wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s new Booster Course Pass DLC.

The new content is slowly starting to roll out around the world. It’s officially live in Japan, with other regions to follow over the next few hours.

Here’s the gameplay showing off all wave 1 tracks in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update 2.0.0

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has just been given a new update, with the game receiving version 2.0.0. As expected, players can access the first wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC once it’s installed.

Note that when attempting to start up the tracks, you may receive a message stating that players can race in the new cups by purchasing the Booster Course Pass or signing up for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This notice is expected to go away shortly and the content should be available for everyone soon.

The following tracks can be accessed now with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe version 2.0.0 update:

Based on a newly-released screenshot from Nintendo, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe seems to have made a small graphical improvement to its Booster Pass DLC since the initial reveal.

GameXplain picked up on the change, noting how in Coconut Mall, the color palette has been updated with a warmer look. This is especially noticeable when examining the main building on the track. You can probably see it with the Coconut Mall sign and more realistic window reflections. Something that has been added is a Mario Kart TV van on the left while some characters have been moved or resized.

Here’s a comparison image for the new and old versions of Coconut Mall from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Pass DLC:

mario kart 8 deluxe booster course pass dlc

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has new DLC on the way in the form of its upcoming Booster Course Pass. Over the next couple of years, fans can look forward to nearly 50 tracks that have been remastered from past titles.

Nintendo recently published an official FAQ that shares a bit of additional information. The full guide can be read in full below. 


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