Nintendo updates ‘Mario Kart World’ multiplayer following backlash

Nintendo has released a new update for Mario Kart World that some fans are saying has “saved” the game.

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

Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World features an open-world driving experience, with the new ‘Free Roam’ letting players explore the 30 traditional circuits and the many different routes in between them.

These paths also feature in the game’s ‘Knockout’ and ‘VS’ mode. This means that instead of a traditional three-lap circuit, players race across a mix of circuits and “intermission” tracks. The inclusion of these routes annoyed a lot of multiplayer gamers, who weren’t impressed that a bulk of the 192 paths were straight sections of road.

When the game launched earlier this year, players could avoid these “intermission” routes being chosen in online ‘VS’ races by selecting ‘Random’ courses. However an update last month put a stop to that workaround, which led to huge backlash from players.

Now Nintendo has released a new 1.2 update for Mario Kart World that changes the frequency in which “intermission” routes will appear in ‘VS’ races. “Increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in ‘VS’ races,” reads the patch notes.

THEY SAVED MARIO KART WORLD

GENERATION UPDATE pic.twitter.com/agjyPrGRcZ

— Sonico (@SonicoVt) July 30, 2025

The update has also nerfed the accuracy of the boomerang weapon and adjusted the odds of getting triple mushrooms and coin boxes. There is also a new mushroom-only option for ‘VS’ races while computer opponents have been weakened across the game, with the expectation of ‘Battle’.

“[A] 3 lap buff and boomerang nerf? We’re in the golden era folks,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “No way they actually made good quality of life improvements and they listened to the fans about the lap races? I didn’t know Nintendo had it in them,” said another. “Some really good changes. I’m glad they are listening,” added a third.

Yesterday (July 29) Nintendo surprise-released the SNES classic Mario Paint onto the Nintendo Switch Online Library with the soundtrack also added to Nintendo Music.

In other news, Tony Hawk has once again joined Goldfinger on stage to perform their classic Pro Skater anthem ‘Superman’ – check out footage here.

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