Mario Kart 8 Deluxe/Version Differences

This is a sub-page of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Version 1.x.x

v1.0.0

The original retail release.

v1.1.0

Released on May 17, 2017, with the following changes:

• Opponents' names are displayed in the rear view mirror view in online matches.
• Invincibility period after a spin-out or crash is longer in online matches.
• Up to two players can spectate a friend group while they wait to join.
• Worldwide and Regional modes add players to Mirror and 200cc matches less often.
• Can now properly create a friend lobby when you have 100 or more friends.
• One of Inkling Girl's animations has been adjusted, likely because the original resembled the bras d'honneur, an obscene gesture:

v1.0.0	v1.1.0 Onward

• The starting positions in online races now properly reflect the order in which the players join.
• Driver Mii characters now properly showing facial expressions.
• The Tournament clock now properly reflects real-world time.

(Source: NeoGAF)

v1.2.0

Released on June 28, 2017.

• The Pikmin Suit is added for the Mii driver, unlocked by scanning a Pikmin-themed amiibo.
• Race rules and course names are now displayed on loading screens for online and wireless play, as well as Mario Kart TV.
• Players who are behind in online matches will receive items geared toward catching up more frequently.
• In online matches, no more than two Piranha Plants will be granted as items at the same time.
• Controls are no longer unresponsive when the timer runs out when choosing a Mii racing suit for online matches.
• When a player uses an item right after the Super Horn in online matches, that item will now remain available for other players.
• Item wheel no longer spins continuously in online matches.
• Online matches now end as intended 30 seconds after the first-place racer finishes.
• The Boomerang now returns to the first slot, if possible, after a player catches it.
• Items shown in a player's item slots now display correctly when holding an item behind them.
• No longer possible to use an item after it has been used to block an attack.
• Communication errors no longer occur frequently while spectating or after spectating online matches.

v1.2.1

Released on August 9, 2017.

• Corrected an issue that prolonged the time to return to the lobby after races near the start and end times of online tournaments.

v1.3.0

Released on October 18, 2017.

• Video capture compatibility added: Hold the Capture Button to capture up to 30 seconds of the previous footage. (Note that the system must be updated to v4.0.0 or higher to use this feature.)
• Now more difficult to float down using the glider when Smart Steering is on.
• Blue Shells no longer hit the second place player when the first-place player hasn't yet crossed the finish line.
• Extended the invulnerability period after spinning out or crashing.
• Changes made to Online Play prior to v1.2.1 now apply to Wireless Play and LAN Play as well:
  • When further back in a race, will receive better items to help catch up to other players.
  • No more than one Piranha Plant will appear at a time.

v1.4.0

Released on December 12, 2017.

• Adds language support for Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. Players can change languages in Settings on the console.
• Resolves an issue that prevented background music from playing after you reached the finish line.

v1.5.0

Released on June 25, 2018.

• Adds support for the Toy-Con Motorbike from Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit. When enabled (via the newly-added Toy-Con settings on the main menu), during races the camera will be at an over-the-shoulder angle; pressing D-Pad Down will return to the standard camera angle.
• Addressed an issue where, after setting up a tournament, the "Search by code" feature would stop functioning.
• Addressed an issue that made it impossible for a player to proceed after colliding with a Star Thwomp.

v1.6.0

Released on July 19, 2018.

• Adds Link (Champion's Tunic) as a playable character, along with a new vehicle (Master Cycle Zero), tires (Ancient Tires), and glider (Paraglider).
• Various revisions to improve gameplay, as well as some content not listed here.

v1.7.0

Released on September 19, 2018.

• Adds compatibility with the Toy-Con Car from Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit. Players can select which Toy-Con to use from the Toy-Con settings in the main menu.
• Now compatible with the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. If the application is running on any device when you enter an online match (Worldwide, Regional, Friends, or Tournaments), you will automatically receive a prompt on your smartphone asking if you would like to join a voice chat with your opponent.

v1.7.1

Released on January 23, 2019.

• Fixes an issue that caused the game to become unresponsive to any input except for the HOME Button.

v1.7.2

Released on May 25, 2021.

• Fixes an issue that caused tournament points to be reset.
• Fixes an issue that caused match history with friends to be reset.

Version 2.x.x

v2.0.0

Released on March 17, 2022, alongside Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass (a six-wave set of paid DLC, with each wave adding two cups with four courses apiece).

• If anyone in the lobby (Friends, Wireless Play, or LAN Play) has the Booster Course Pass, all players can select one of the pass courses.
• Starting March 21, you can select course from the Booster Course Pass in online play (Worldwide, Regional, and Tournaments).
  • Even if the player does not own the Booster Course Pass, they can play courses from the pass randomly.
• Shortens the time it takes for an Item Box to regenerate when it gets taken by someone else.
• Fixes an issue where a communication error occurred when 12 people matched during online play.
• Various fixes to issues that improve gameplay experience, and other content that is not listed here.

v2.1.0

Released on August 4, 2022, alongside Booster Course Pass Wave 2.

• Increases the number of ghosts you can download from 16 to 32.
• Adjusts the extent to which a vehicle is thrown, depending on its weight.
• Further shortens the time it takes for item boxes to regenerate after another player takes them.
• Shortens the time it takes for one player to be able to pick up a coin that another player has dropped.
• Made it so that it is now easier to face the proper way forward in mid-air when using Smart Steering.
• The cars that the Shy Guys are riding in in Wii Coconut Mall now move from time to time in all modes other than Time Trial.

• Fixes an issue where players could not choose a DLC course even though a player in the lobby in Friends has the Booster Course Pass.
• Fixes an issue where players would not receive coins even though they used the Feather in Coin Runners to steal a rival's coins.
• Fixes an issue where players could receive two items from one item box in N64 Toad's Turnpike.

While the above were listed by Nintendo, several other changes were not:

• The course icons for most of the Booster Course Pass Wave 1 courses are now slightly brighter. The exception, Ninja Hideaway, is now (fittingly) slightly darker instead.
• Dirt marks are now left on tires when driving on Booster Course Pass Wave 1 courses.
• Fixes an issue where sounds of a character while boosting with a Mushroom or Super/Ultra Mini-Turbo were not properly randomized when viewing a replay.
• CPU drivers' speeds on 200cc on Hard difficulty have been adjusted on the Booster Course Pass Wave 1 courses on VS Races.
• How Lakitu decides where to respawn players on the track after they fall off has been adjusted.
• Fixes an issue introduced in v2.0.0 where CPUs would no longer replace players who disconnected in a friend room in the subsequent race when the CPU racers option was turned on.
• Patches a vulnerability, known as ENLBufferPwn, in the game's network code which enabled hackers to take full remote control of a user's (unmodified) Switch system during online multiplayer sessions. This same vulnerability exists in many other first-party Nintendo games, such as Mario Kart 7.

v2.2.0

Released on December 7, 2022, alongside Booster Course Pass Wave 3.

• Adds "Custom Items" setting to item Rules. This is a feature that lets you decide which items appear.
  • This is supported in VS Race, Balloon Battle, Coin Runners, Shine Thief, Renegade Roundup, Playing with Friends, Tournaments, and Wireless Play.
  • Items that have not been set to appear may still appear according to the connection environment and game situation.
• When getting struck by lightning while gliding through the air, the glider no longer closes.
• The period of invincibility after spinning or crashing now changes depending on the driver or machine parts.
• When a user cannot download any new ghost data, they can now delete all the ghost data they downloaded until then.
• Deleted "Recommended" in Tournaments.

• Fixed an issue where coins would not be added when touching an opponent's Crazy Eight coin.
• Fixed an issue where there was a communication error when using the Boo item Boo.
• Fixed an issue where using the Super Horn would not hit more than one opponent at the same time.
• Fixed an issue where images in SNES Mario Circuit 3 would look distorted.
• Fixed an issue where a player could not acquire multiple items in a row in GBA Snow Land.
• Fixed an issue where points would not be added to a member list when spectating an online match.
• Fixed an issue where, when selecting a team, the COM characters that actually play in the game were not the same as shown on selection screen.
• Fixed an issue where the warning sound was not playing when a Red Shell or Spiny Shell comes from behind.
• Other adjustments and corrections were made to improve the gameplay experience.

Unlisted changes:

• An issue introduced in v2.1.0 was fixed where Mario, Peach, Metal Mario, Pink Gold Peach, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach no longer appeared as a driver's rivals in Grand Prix.

New issue/bug starting in this update (not fixed to this day):

• Two coins dropped by the N64 Rainbow Road train despawns instantly after dropped. For more information about this issue: N64 Rainbow Road Train Coin Despawn

v2.2.1

Released on December 21, 2022, and fixed a few issues present on the Wave 3 city courses:

• Fixed issue where, when playing online in Berlin Byways, the image would get choppy.
• Fixed issue where, when playing in London Loop, player is carried in by Lakitu after falling off course and they were not returned to the appropriate location.

v2.3.0

Released on March 8, 2023, alongside Booster Course Pass Wave 4 (which itself included Birdo as a playable character).

• Improved the performance of some characters and vehicle customizations.
• Made it so that the player can see the rear view mirror when spinning, crashing, or changed into Bullet Bill.
• Made it so, if the player uses a Super Star or Boo at the same time that they are hit by Lightning, their kart will not crash or become small.
• Made it so, when jumping from a Whomp in Tour Berlin Byways, karts can leap over the fence.
• Added Golden Mushroom to Custom Items in Renegade Roundup.
• Added "Booster Course Pass" button to main menu. If a player does not have the Booster Course Pass, a link to the Nintendo eShop will be displayed.

• Fixed an issue where, when the player's kart became small after being hit by lightning, it would slip into the ground.
• Fixed an issue where, when the player's kart ran into a wall, they would be carried over by Lakitu even though they had not left the course.
• Fixed an issue where the player character would not be able to hit an opponent with a red shell when that opponent was jumping on a half-pipe.
• Fixed an issue where the player character could not drift after jumping and landing in a half pipe.
• Fixed an issue so that the player can use another item other than Boo right after using Boo.
• Fixed an issue where the player could not throw a Boomerang after catching it and it entered the second item slot.
• Fixed an issue where, when a player character hit the Blooper in an opponent's Crazy 8, they would have ink squirted on them even though they are using the Super Star.
• Fixed an issue where, when the player stops looking at the rear view mirror, the ink would disappear momentarily even though they had Blooper ink on them.
• Fixed an issue where, when player is hit with a red shell at the same time as changing into Bullet Bill, they would go off the course.
• Fixed an issue where, at the escalator in Wii Coconut Mall, there would be a communication error when a character could not move forward.
• Fixed an issue when changed into Bullet Bill in N64 Kalimari Desert, where the character would slip into the ground.
• Fixed an issue where the character would get stuck on the bridge posts right before and after the starting line in Tour London Loop.
• Fixed an issue where, on wavy floors in 3DS Rainbow Road, the character could be pushed way off the course.

Unlisted changes:

• Every driver - except for Metal Mario, Gold Mario, Pink Gold Peach, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Roy, Wario, Dry Bowser, Bowser, Morton, and Heavy Mii - has had their Ground, Water, Air, and Anti-Gravity Speed statistics increased by a value of 0.25.
• Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Dry Bones, Light Mii, Toad, Shy Guy, Larry, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Mario, Ludwig, Medium Mii, Luigi, and Iggy have had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25.
• Every vehicle body - except for Pipe Frame, Varmint, City Tripper, Biddybuggy, Mr. Scooty, Landship, Streetle, Standard Bike, Flame Rider, Wild Wiggler, and W 25 Silver Arrow - has had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25.
• Every tire - except for Roller, Azure Roller, Button, and Leaf Tires - has had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25.
• The timer glitch in Time Trials rounding the times of some courses to the full frame has been fixed. This affected section courses (Mount Wario, N64 Rainbow Road, Big Blue, and 3DS Rainbow Road) and courses that have the drivers cross the finish line backwards (Tour Paris Promenade, Tour Sydney Sprint, Tour Berlin Byways, and DS Peach Gardens).
• When using the rear view mirror, the screen no longer "hops" when the player hops.
• The flags in Tour Berlin Byways no longer respawn the player upon being touched.
• When selecting certain characters with variants, other variants can no longer appear as a CPU opponent. Additionally, only one variant of the aforementioned character can appear as a CPU opponent at a time.
  • This applies to Mario/Tanooki Mario/Metal Mario/Gold Mario, Peach/Cat Peach/Pink Gold Peach, and Link/Link (Champion's Tunic).

v2.4.0

Released on July 12, 2023, alongside Booster Course Pass Wave 5 (which itself included Kamek, Wiggler, and Petey Piranha as playable characters).

• Improved the performance of some characters and vehicle customizations.
• Adjusted the invincibility time of some characters.
• Adjusted random item selection method in races where Custom Items is set, for when there are four players or less.
• Expanded range for when a warning displays when a Red Shell or Spiny Shell approaches from behind.
• Made it so that warnings about a Red Shell or Spiny Shell will be displayed with priority over other warnings.
• Made it so that a warning is not displayed when a Red Shell is targeting opponents.
• Made it so that L/R button operation on the class selection screen and course selection screen in the Grand Prix can be conducted on the touchscreen as well.
• Lowered the appearance rate of Mirror and 200cc races in Worldwide and Regional settings.

• Fixed an issue where a communication error occurs when a character catches a boomerang at the same time that a Boo brings an item.
• Fixed an issue where, when equipping an item and catching a boomerang at the same time, the player could not throw that item.
• Fixed an issue where the graph for the Mii Heavy weight class' parameters didn't match the actual abilities.
• Fixed an issue where a warning would not appear when an opponent used a Bullet Bill in online matches.
• Made it so the kart doesn't spin or crash when running into an obstruction if the player uses a Super Star, Bullet Bill, or Boo at that same time.
• Fixed an issue where the kart would get stuck between a cliff and small mushroom and be unable to move in Wii Mushroom Gorge.
• Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when transformed as Bullet Bill right in front of the goal in GBA Riverside Park.

Unlisted changes:

• Cat Peach, Inkling Girl, Villager (Female), Tanooki Mario, Inkling Boy, and Villager (Male) have had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Metal Mario, Gold Mario, Pink Gold Peach, Rosalina, King Boo, and Link have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 0.50 (2 points).
• Waluigi, Donkey Kong, and Roy have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 0.75 (3 points).
• Wario, Dry Bowser, and Heavy Mii have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 1.00 (4 points).
• Bowser and Morton have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 1.25 (5 points).
• Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Dry Bones, Light Mii, Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, Bowser Jr., Toad, Shy Guy, Larry, Cat Peach, Inkling Girl, and Villager (Female) have had their Invincibility statistic decreased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Toadette, Wendy, Isabelle, Tanooki Mario, Inkling Boy, Villager (Male), Peach, Daisy, Birdo, and Yoshi have had their Invincibility statistic decreased by a value of 0.50 (2 points).
• Landship, Streetle, Pipe Frame, Varmint, City Tripper, Tanooki Kart, Koopa Clown, and Master Cycle Zero have had their Ground Speed statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Tanooki Kart, Koopa Clown, Master Cycle Zero, Circuit Special, B Dasher, and P-Wing have had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Bandwagon, GLA (kart), and Standard ATV have had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.50 (2 points).
• Monster, Hot Monster, and Ancient Tires have had their Ground Speed statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Off-Road, Retro Off-Road, Triforce Tires, Metal, Gold Tires, Slick, and Cyber Slick have had their Mini-Turbo statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• In the Korean version of the game, the name "파워풀 컵" was changed to "황금대시 컵," the former being a translation of the Golden Dash Cup's Japanese name and the latter being a translation of the cup's English name.
• The materials on Tour Singapore Speedway have been updated.
• The particle effects on DS Mario Circuit have been updated.
• Vehicles no longer drift as tight as before the update before off-road has been touched.
• Vehicles move slower while driving straight compared to before the update.

Version 3.x.x

v3.0.0

Released on November 8, 2023, alongside Booster Course Pass Wave 6 (which itself included Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette as playable characters, and 17 Mii racing costumes taken from Mario Kart Tour).

• Added “Music” button to the top menu.
  • This is a feature where you can listen to the background music that plays during the game, as you like.
  • Even players who don’t own the Booster Course Pass can listen to the background music of the DLC courses.
• Added feature where other players who aren’t friends can join in a Room.
  • After creating a room, press the + Button or – Button to display the Room ID on the Room screen, and tell your fellow racers the Room ID.
  • The other racers can join by entering the Room ID in “Search by Room ID.”
• Made it so that you can create a Room even if you have 0 friends registered.
• Added staff credits for the Booster Couse Pass.
  • Conditions for seeing the credits
    • If you have the Booster Course Pass: Clear all DLC cups in Grand Prix mode ranked third or higher (for the second time and later, clear Moon Cup or Spiny Cup ranked third or higher).
    • If you don’t have the Booster Course Pass: After racing in the DLC courses in Online Play or Wireless Play 100 times or more, clear a random cup in Grand Prix mode ranked third or higher (for the second time and later, clear Bell Cup ranked third or higher).
• Increased the invincibility time of a portion of characters and vehicle customizations.
• Made it so that you can’t acquire strong items when taking an Item Box by stopping or driving in reverse, or taking an Item Box that is in same location multiple times during a race.
• Shortened the time between when an Item Box is acquired by someone until it is restored.
• Lowered the appearance rate of Mirror and 200cc in “Worldwide” and “Regional.”
• Made it so you can acquire the “Varia Suit” when using a Metroid series amiibo.
• Made it so you can acquire the “Hylian Suit” when using a Legend of Zelda series amiibo.
• Made it so you can acquire the “Kirby Suit” when using a Kirby series amiibo.
• Made it so you can acquire the “Daisy Suit” when using a Daisy amiibo.

• Fixed an issue where no Bob-omb car blows up in Wii Moonview Highway, but a Bob-omb car blows up for someone you are playing with online.
• Fixed an issue where, when racing against a Ghost in Time Trials on Yoshi's Island, the red road would not appear even though the Ghost touched the Winged Cloud.

Unlisted changes:

• Streetle, Landship, Pipe Frame, Varmint, City Tripper, Comet, and W 25 Silver Arrow have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Standard Bike and Flame Rider have had their Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 0.50 (2 points).
• Wild Wiggler has had its Invincibility statistic increased by a value of 0.75 (3 points).
• Mach 8 and Sports Coupe have had their Invincibility statistic decreased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• Teddy Buggy and Inkstriker have had their Invincibility statistic decreased by a value of 0.50 (2 points).
• Every tire — except for Roller, Azure Roller, Off-Road, and Retro Off-Road — has had their Invincibility increased by a value of 0.25 (1 point).
• New item bagging rules:
  • Players can get a maximum of two strong items on every stationary item row.
    • Moving Item Boxes (such as on GCN Baby Park) counts each individual Item Box separately.
  • If Lakitu picks up the player, the item count for a given row resets to zero.
  • Players that slow down right before an Item Box will get weak items, no matter the item count.
• The character icons on the main character select screen now depict the previously selected skin for characters that have alternate skins.
• The amiibo label on the Mii icon on the character select screen was removed.
• In the Latin American Spanish version of the game, the name "Circuito Luz de Luna" was changed to "Autopista de la Luna," the latter being the name originally assigned to Moonview Highway in Mario Kart Wii for that version.
• Nintendo of Korea, Nintendo Hong Kong, Nintendo Taiwan, and iQue are now present in the game's credits.
• When using Mii or Petey Piranha, the stem of the Super Glider, Wario Wing, Peach Parasol, Flower Glider, and the Gold Glider are now bent, rather than straight.

v3.0.1

Released on November 28, 2023, and fixed a few issues present on some of the Booster Course Pass courses and the base game.

• Fixed an issue where the player was unable to acquire a strong item even though they did not take an Item Box by stopping or going in reverse during a race, or take an item countless times from an Item Box in same location, when the communication is unstable during an online match.
• Fixed an issue where the glider did not open when getting on a glide ramp that is past the suspension bridge in Tour Vancouver Velocity.
• Fixed an issue where the player might fall into a crevice in the cliff and not be able to move in Tour Rome Avanti.
• Fixed an issue where the player would be floating in mid-air after driving out of the course without being carried back in by Lakitu in GC^(sic) DK Mountain.
• Fixed an issue where the player would sometimes not be able to move when riding on the statues in Wii Daisy Circuit.
• Fixed an issue where actions and expressions did not match for some characters that were added in the Booster Course Pass.
• Fixed an issue where a Mii’s head would get extremely large or small when playing the highlight reel.

v3.0.3

To do: Look deep into this, if possible.

Released on September 11, 2024.

• Several issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Unlisted change: ""The version 3.0.3 update fixes a security flaw in the game's netcode. Only a few lines of the code were modified (appears to be a fix for a buffer overflow). There were no changes to the graphics, sounds, game balance, etc." -OatmealDome (https://x.com/OatmealDome/status/1834350565544824979)