Nintendo has rolled out its biggest Mario Kart World update yet, and Version 1.4.0 is packed with new features, gameplay improvements, online enhancements, and a massive wave of bug fixes that players have been demanding since launch.
Released six months after Mario Kart World debuted alongside the Switch 2, this patch dramatically expands what players can do both online and offline while tightening up some long-standing issues.
Custom Items Finally Arrive
The headline feature in this Mario Kart World update is the addition of custom items, a fan-requested mechanic that allows players to hand-pick which items appear during a race.
A screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
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Custom items can now be enabled in:
- Vs. Race
- Coin Runners
- Balloon Battle
- Room (online or wireless)
This brings Mario Kart World closer to the flexibility players loved in earlier entries and gives more control over the chaos—whether you want to ban the Blue Shell forever, do nothing but Blue Shells (which this author does NOT recommend!), or create all-Banana pandemonium.
Music Improvements and New Menu Options
Nintendo also folded in several quality-of-life upgrades centered around sound and interface navigation:
- The game now displays song titles and original game sources when pausing.
- Players can finally adjust music volume directly through the Settings/Controller menu.
- In Single Player and Vs. Race, the pause menu now includes Restart and Next Race, streamlining gameplay loops.
A screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
The update also adds Photo Mode when racing against ghosts in Time Trials, expanding the game’s robust screenshot tools.
Track Layout Changes and New Gameplay Tweaks
Nintendo has also altered intermission tracks, the transitional race routes connecting major courses in Vs. Race and online play. For example, reaching Koopa Troopa Beach now requires finishing two races instead of one.
A screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
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Affected connections include:
- Koopa Troopa Beach – DK Spaceport
- Koopa Troopa Beach – Crown City
- Koopa Troopa Beach – Peach Stadium
- Koopa Troopa Beach – Whistletop Summit
- Koopa Troopa Beach – Desert Hills
A screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
Other gameplay updates include:
- Manta Ramps now allow dashing
- You can no longer use two Boos simultaneously
- Dash Food and coins respawn more quickly
- Players will no longer collide with Dragoneel when transforming into Bullet Bill
These refinements aim to make races more consistent—and slightly less punishing.
A Huge List of Bug Fixes
Patch 1.4.0 also lands with an extensive series of bug fixes.
Mario in a screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
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Some of the issues corrected include:
- Vehicles floating unexpectedly
- Blurry character visuals during Photo Mode
- Incorrect dash timing after Charge Jumps
- Problems entering UFOs
- Multiple recurring issues related to Bullet Bill
Nintendo Continues to Show Support for Switch 2’s Flagship Racer
Mario Kart World launched as a bundled showcase title for the Switch 2 and has maintained strong sales ever since. This update reinforces that Nintendo is still actively refining the experience—and, importantly, listening to player feedback.
A screenshot from the trailer to Mario Kart World – YouTube, Nintendo of America
Version 1.4.0 is easily the most significant Mario Kart World update so far, bringing new customization, better online functionality, improved presentation, and far more stability to the game. For longtime fans, the patch signals exactly what they hoped for: a commitment to making the newest entry in Nintendo’s premiere racing franchise even better over time.
Have you experienced this Mario Kart World update yet? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
