‘Mario Kart World’ fans “heartbroken” over new multiplayer update: “It’s ruined the game”

Mario Kart World fans are “heartbroken” after Nintendo made a subtle change to the game’s multiplayer.

• READ MORE: ‘Mario Kart World’ is a supercharged reinvention of the ultimate party game

For the first time in the franchise’s history, Mario Kart World features an open-world driving experience. ‘Free Roam’ lets you explore the 30 traditional circuits and the many different lands in between them.

These paths also feature in the game’s ‘Knockout’ and ‘VS’ mode, meaning that instead of a traditional three-lap circuit, players race across a mix of circuits and “intermission” tracks. Not everyone was keen on this new feature though. A majority of the 192 “intermission” tracks are straight sections of road, which aren’t the most exciting to race on.

In online ‘VS’ races though, players discovered that if they selected ‘Random’ courses, they’d only be given traditional circuits. However a new update has changed that.

According to the patch notes, Nintendo has “adjusted courses selected in ‘Random’ when selecting the next course in a wireless ‘VS Race.” Now all 192 “intermission” tracks are also included in the random selection, and players aren’t happy.

The thing is, people aren't just being stubborn about the intermission tracks. I wanted to like them, and did at first.

But they have serious issues. Not only with bagging, but they lack any real replay value or depth. What you do in these segments barely matter.

— LonelyGoomba (@LonelyGoomba) June 26, 2025

“I’m heartbroken by this update. And the lack of communication from them is even worse. I don’t mind the intermissions once in a while, but playing them every single time after everyone has been actively protesting against them using the power of their votes, I’m genuinely in disbelief,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “Yeah it’s sad. The three-lap tracks have the perfect pacing. They’re tailored so you’re consistently having fun. Not just the layout, but the theming. I don’t hate all of the connecting routes but they just don’t flow the same way,” added another.

“I never usually complain but this update almost killed the hype for the game. I was having fun, now it’s super boring…I already drive for an hour on a highway to get to work, now I need to do that in Mario Kart too,” said a third.

Mario Kart World legitimately just went from a 9.5/10 to like a 6/10 game with the smallest update imaginable. Nintendo truly baffles me what a disappointing decision from them

— Airid (@AiridTV) June 26, 2025

Others have praised the change though. “Just today I’ve already seen three new tracks I have never seen before with 70+ hours. The three-lap squad was keeping me from enjoying the full game,” wrote one fan on Reddit.

Last week, Nintendo had to deny that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was about to get a surprise release after posters claiming it was “out now” were spotted around London.

In other news, Hideo Kojima has celebrated the launch of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach by shredding on a custom-made guitar.

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