Mario Kart World Update Brings Custom Items, Big Online Upgrades, and a Mountain of Fixes

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Nintendo just released a major update for Mario Kart World! Version 1.4.0 includes lots of new features, makes the game play better, improves online experiences, and fixes many of the issues players have been reporting since the game first came out.

This update, launched six months after Mario Kart World came out with the Switch 2, adds a lot of new features for both online and offline play, and also fixes several older problems.

Custom Items Finally Arrive

The biggest new feature in this Mario Kart World update is custom items. Players have been asking for this for a while – it lets you choose exactly which items will show up during a race.

Custom items can now be enabled in:

  • Vs. Race
  • Coin Runners
  • Balloon Battle
  • Room (online or wireless)

What I really appreciate about this new update is how much more control it gives you over the races. It’s a big step towards recapturing the fun customization options from older Mario Kart games. You can finally ban those dreaded Blue Shells if you want – though I wouldn’t advise a race only with them! – or just create total banana-peel mayhem. It’s all about tailoring the chaos to your liking, and that’s fantastic.

Music Improvements and New Menu Options

Nintendo also added several improvements to make the game easier and more enjoyable, focusing on sound and how you move through the menus.

  • 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.

The update introduces a Photo Mode for Time Trials, letting you take great screenshots while racing against ghosts, and builds on the game’s existing screenshot features.

Track Layout Changes and New Gameplay Tweaks

Nintendo has updated the music and routes played between races in Vs. Race and online play. Now, getting to places like Koopa Troopa Beach takes completing two races instead of just one.

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

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.

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

When the Switch 2 launched, Mario Kart World was a key game included with the console and has continued to sell well. This new update shows Nintendo is committed to improving the game and taking player suggestions seriously.

Update 1.4.0 is the biggest improvement to Mario Kart World yet, offering players more ways to customize their experience, a smoother online connection, a polished look and feel, and a much more stable game. Dedicated fans will be happy to see Nintendo is dedicated to continually improving this latest installment in the Mario Kart series.

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2025-12-05 18:03