To update Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, connect your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 to the Internet, highlight the game on the HOME Menu without opening it, press + or −, choose Software Update, then choose Via the Internet. Nintendo lists Ver. 4.0.1, released October 13, 2026, as the latest version.
Quick answer: the manual update method
The same procedure works on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch OLED Model and Nintendo Switch 2. You do not update from inside the game. The update controls are attached to the game icon on the HOME Menu.
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- Connect the console to the Internet.
- On the HOME Menu, highlight the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe icon. Do not launch the game.
- Press the + or − button on the controller.
- Look under the software title to see the currently installed version, then select Software Update.
- Select Via the Internet and leave the console connected while the download and installation complete.
After installation, open the game normally. If the version shown in the software information is 4.0.1, the console has the latest update listed by Nintendo on October 13, 2026.
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What you need before updating
An Internet connection
The manual option downloads the update from Nintendo, so the console must be connected to the Internet. A wired or wireless connection can be used; the essential requirement is that the Switch can reach the Internet while the download and installation run.
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Available storage
Update data needs free space in the console’s system storage or on its microSD card. If the Switch reports that there is not enough space, free storage in one of those locations before trying again. A Nintendo Switch-compatible microSD card is only a conditional solution: it is useful when the existing system and card storage do not have enough room, but it is not required when the console already has sufficient free space.
The right console and game icon
The update path applies to the original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED Model and Nintendo Switch 2. Make sure you highlight the installed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe icon on the HOME Menu rather than opening the game first. Pressing + or − with another icon selected opens that software’s options instead.
How to check which version is installed
Version information appears in the software-options screen. Highlight Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the HOME Menu, press + or −, and read the number shown under the software title. This lets you confirm whether the console is already on Ver. 4.0.1 before downloading anything.
If the number is already 4.0.1, Nintendo’s currently listed release is installed. If the number is earlier, use Software Update and Via the Internet. Checking the number first is also useful when several consoles are being prepared for local, LAN or online multiplayer.
Automatic updating
Nintendo says the game can download and install automatically when the console is connected to the Internet and the Software Auto-Updates setting is enabled. Automatic updating removes the need to open the software-options menu manually, but the same storage and Internet requirements still apply.
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When players use several consoles, check the installed version on each system rather than assuming that an automatic update completed everywhere. A console that is offline or has insufficient storage can remain on an older version, which can prevent the group from playing together until it is updated.
The latest release: Ver. 4.0.1
Nintendo lists Ver. 4.0.1 as released on October 13, 2026. It is a corrective update addressing four issues:
- During Online Play and Wireless Play on Nintendo Switch 2, obstacle or Item Box counts could increase compared with Nintendo Switch.
- In two-player Online Play and Wireless Play, a registered user could be unavailable for selection.
- Star Bits on Wii Rainbow Road could be missing on Nintendo Switch 2.
- The game could close unexpectedly under certain conditions.
These fixes are part of the reason to update even if the game appears to start normally. The patch addresses multiplayer behavior, course content and stability conditions that may not occur in every session.
What Ver. 4.0.0 added
Ver. 4.0.0, released on September 1, 2026, was the preceding major update. Its changes are especially relevant to Nintendo Switch 2 owners.
| Version | Release date | Changes recorded by Nintendo |
|---|---|---|
| Ver. 4.0.1 | October 13, 2026 | Fixes obstacle and Item Box count differences in Switch 2 Online and Wireless Play, a registered-user selection problem in two-player Online and Wireless Play, missing Star Bits on Wii Rainbow Road for Switch 2, and unexpected closures under certain conditions. |
| Ver. 4.0.0 | September 1, 2026 | Adds Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution-TV support, shortens loading before races and battles, enables 5–8-player multiplayer on Nintendo Switch 2, and adds CameraPlay support. |
Nintendo Switch 2 display and loading changes
The 4.0.0 release added support for Nintendo Switch 2 display output and high-resolution televisions, and shortened loading before races and battles. These are software changes delivered through the game update; they do not change the manual update steps.
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- Nintendo Switch 2 uses a new standard of expandable memory card called microSD Express (sold separately). This kind of memory card is needed for faster access speeds and to ensure games will run smoothly.
- Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2.
Five- to eight-player multiplayer on Nintendo Switch 2
On Nintendo Switch 2, Ver. 4.0.0 enables multiplayer sessions for 5–8 players. Nintendo records that an eight-player session can use up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers, with at least one Joy-Con 2 or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller required. The controller requirement applies to the eight-player arrangement, so organize the controllers before starting a large session.
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CameraPlay
Ver. 4.0.0 also adds CameraPlay support. A USB camera is required to use that feature. Updating the software adds the capability, but the camera remains a separate hardware requirement.
Why every player must have the same version
Nintendo states that all players must use the same software version to play together. This applies when consoles are being connected for local wireless or LAN play as well as when players use online features.
For example, if one console is updated to Ver. 4.0.1 while another remains on an earlier release, the systems may not be able to join the same session. Update every participating console and confirm the number in each software-options screen before creating the room or lobby.
Updating can therefore change the timing of a planned gathering: a player who has not updated may need to complete the download first. The requirement is about the installed game version, not about which Nintendo Switch model each player owns.
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Do you need Nintendo Switch Online to update?
Nintendo requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership for the game’s online features. The update itself is selected from the HOME Menu and downloaded over the console’s Internet connection; the membership requirement concerns using online features after the software is current.
The update must be applied to use the game’s Internet features. If you plan to race online, make sure the software is updated first, then meet Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Online requirement for that online session. Local wireless and LAN play still require the participating consoles to use the same software version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting update problems
The Software Update option is missing
- Return to the HOME Menu and highlight the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe icon without launching it.
- Press + or − to open the software-options screen.
- Confirm that you selected the game icon, not a different title or a shortcut.
- Choose Software Update, then Via the Internet.
If the displayed version is already 4.0.1, there is no newer release in Nintendo’s current listing to install.
The download will not start
Confirm that the Switch is connected to the Internet, then retry the Via the Internet option. An interrupted or unavailable connection prevents the console from retrieving the update. If the console is online but the update still cannot proceed, check the available storage next, because Nintendo notes that update data requires space in system memory or on a microSD card.
The console says there is not enough space
Free space in the console’s system storage or provide additional room on a compatible microSD card, then start the update again. Do not buy or insert a card solely because an update exists: a card is only needed when the storage already available to the console is insufficient.
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Another player cannot join
Check the version number on every participating console. Nintendo’s same-version rule covers online, local wireless and LAN play. The player on the earlier version must complete the update before the group tries again.
The game previously closed unexpectedly
Ver. 4.0.1 fixes unexpected game closures under certain conditions. If a console is on an earlier version, install the update and then check the version number again. The release notes identify the issue as fixed by the update; they do not state that every possible closure has the same cause.
Course content or multiplayer behavior differs on Switch 2
Update to Ver. 4.0.1. The release specifically addresses obstacle or Item Box count increases during Online Play and Wireless Play on Nintendo Switch 2, missing Star Bits on Wii Rainbow Road, and a registered-user selection problem in two-player sessions. These are version-specific fixes, so confirming the installed number is important when comparing behavior between Switch and Switch 2 consoles.
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Nintendo says save data remains available after downloading the update. Installing the software update is therefore separate from deleting or replacing the game’s saved progress. Continue to use the normal game icon after installation; the update changes the software version while keeping the save data available.
Manual versus automatic updating
| Method | How it works | Internet needed | Storage needed | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | Highlight the game, press + or −, choose Software Update, then Via the Internet. | Yes | Yes, in system storage or on a microSD card | Checking or forcing the update before a multiplayer session. |
| Automatic | The console downloads and installs the update when it is connected to the Internet and Software Auto-Updates is enabled. | Yes | Yes, in system storage or on a microSD card | Keeping the game current without opening the software-options menu. |
Neither method removes the need for matching versions in multiplayer. Automatic updating is convenient, while manual updating gives you an immediate way to check the number and start the installation before playing.
A reliable pre-session checklist
- Connect each Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 to the Internet.
- Highlight Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on each HOME Menu.
- Press + or − and read the displayed version.
- On any console below 4.0.1, choose Software Update and Via the Internet.
- Resolve any storage warning by freeing system or microSD card space.
- Wait for the installation to finish, then check the version again.
- Start Online Play, Wireless Play or LAN Play only after all participating consoles show the same version.
For an eight-player Nintendo Switch 2 session, also verify the controller arrangement: Nintendo records support for up to seven Nintendo Switch controllers, with at least one Joy-Con 2 or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller required.
Bottom line
Use the HOME Menu’s software-options screen to install Ver. 4.0.1: highlight Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, press + or −, select Software Update, and choose Via the Internet. Keep enough system or microSD storage available, update every console that will play together, and remember that Nintendo Switch Online is required for online features.
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