Imagine a Mario Kart race where you decide exactly which items appear. No more frustrating Lightning strikes at the worst possible moment! Or maybe you want maximum chaos and ONLY Blue Shells are allowed? That dream is now reality. Nintendo's just dropped a massive update for Mario Kart World on the (hypothetical) Nintendo Switch 2, and it's a game-changer.
Update 1.4.0 isn't just a minor tweak; it's a full-blown overhaul that addresses some long-standing fan requests and introduces exciting new features. Chief among them? Custom item rules!
But that's not all. Are you a music lover? Mario Kart World boasts an incredible soundtrack, filled with catchy remixes and fresh takes on classic Nintendo tunes. And this is the part most people miss: now you can finally see the name of each song and the game it originally came from right in the pause menu! This is fantastic for those of us who constantly find ourselves humming a tune and wondering where we've heard it before. Think of it as your personal Nintendo music encyclopedia right at your fingertips!
Beyond the music and item customization, Nintendo has also responded to player feedback regarding the game's track structure. Remember those moments where you felt like you were spending more time between courses than on them? The community even came up with the term "intermission tracks" to describe this gameplay. Well, Nintendo's listening! In races leading to the beloved Koopa Troopa Beach, you'll now get to enjoy two laps on the sandy shores instead of just one. More Koopa Troopa Beach? Yes, please!
Let's dive deeper into the custom item rules, arguably the star of this update. This feature is available in VS Race, Balloon Battle, Coin Runners, and when setting up online play Rooms. It allows you to fine-tune your item selection, creating wildly different gameplay experiences. Want a strategic race with only Mushrooms and Green Shells? Done. A chaotic free-for-all with nothing but Blue Shells and Bob-ombs? Absolutely. The possibilities are endless.
Numerous other quality-of-life improvements are included in this patch. Coin and Dash Food regeneration times have been shortened, ensuring a more consistent flow of items. And speaking of items, here's a clever tweak: you can no longer use a second Boo while already using one. No more stacking invisibility! It's a small change, but one that prevents a potentially frustrating exploit.
Here's the full list of changes included in Version 1.4.0:
Mario Kart World - Version 1.4.0 (December 2nd, 2025)
General
- Added "Custom Items" to the item rules.
- This feature lets you set which items appear.
- This is supported in "VS Race", "Balloon Battle", "Coin Runners", and "Room" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
- Made it so that the music track name and source title of the track that is playing will be displayed on the Pause Menu.
- Added "Music Volume" to "Settings/Controller".
- Made it so players who gathered in a "Room" of "Online Play" can participate in "Race", "Knockout Tour", and "Battle".
- Up to 4 players can participate in "Race", "Knockout Tour", and "Battle".
- Made it so you can join in with friends who are playing "Knockout Tour" from "Friends" in "2p", "Online Play" as well.
- Added "Restart" and "Next Race" in the Pause Menu for "VS Race" in "Single Player".
- Made it so you can select "Photo Mode" from the Pause Menu in "Race against Ghost" in "Time Trials".
- Changed the course layout of below courses for "VS Race", or "Race" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
- Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "DK Spaceport".
- Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Crown City".
- Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Peach Stadium".
- Race that heads from "Whistlestop Summit" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- Race that heads from "Desert Hills" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- Race that heads from "DK Spaceport" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- Race that heads from "Crown City" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- Race that heads from "Peach Stadium" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- Changed it so that, in all races heading toward "Koopa Troopa Beach", including the above courses, you will cross the finish line after two laps once you arrive at "Koopa Troopa Beach".
- You will now dash when riding on Manta Ramp’s back.
- Made it so the player will not hit Dragoneel when transformed into Bullet Bill.
- Made it so the player cannot use a second Boo while already using a Boo, when holding two Boos.
- When Dash Food is taken by someone, shortened the time until that Dash Food reappears.
- When a coin placed on water is taken by someone, shortened the time until that coin reappears.
Fixed Issues
- Fixed an issue where the dash time was not correct after a Charge Jump.
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through a wall when being stomped on from above by a vehicle driving on the road.
- Fixed an issue where a player would be squashed when touching a Thwomp that had landed.
- Fixed an issue where a Bullet Bill would not be displayed after using it.
- Fixed an issue where a character would be blurry even when making "Focus" "Character" when taking a photo in "Photo Mode" on the Pause Menu.
- Fixed an issue where the screen would look distorted if entering a pipe at the same time as joining a Free Roam in "Online Play".
- Fixed an issue where player could not get in a UFO when multiple players tried to get in a UFO at the same time in Free Roam in "Online Play".
- Fixed an issue where a friend’s information would not be updated when looking at the list of friends in "Friends" in "Online Play".
- Fixed an issue where there would be a communication error when looking at a group ID in "View Room Info" when participating in a group in "Friends" in "Online Play".
- Fixed an issue where a player’s place would go down if retiring during "Knockout Tour" in "Online Play".
- Fixed an issue where a player that is seen when spectating looks like they are going off the course over and over during "Knockout Tour" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
- Fixed an issue where the player’s own character or vehicle would change when starting "Online Play" or "Wireless Play" again after quitting a game after "Knockout Tour" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
- Fixed an issue where a player would get stuck on a wall when using a Bullet Bill while falling off the course in "Sky-High Sundae".
- Fixed an issue where a Bullet Bill would go outside the course when using it on the final curve in "Boo Cinema".
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through a bulldozer in "Toad's Factory".
- Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a spotlight in the race that heads from "Toad's Factory" to "Bowser's Castle" when transformed into Bullet Bill.
- Fixed an issue where if the player used a Bullet Bill or Spiny Shell in the first curve of "Desert Hills", it would get stuck on a rock.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a tree when using a Bullet Bill on "DK Pass".
- Fixed an issue where, when the player was small because of Lightning, they would slip through the wall on the final curve of "DK Pass.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a billboard when transforming into Bullet Bill in the race that heads from "Crown City" to "Desert Hills".
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ring of stone when using a Bullet Bill or Mega Mushroom while falling in "Great ? Block Ruins" right before the final curve.
- Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground on the meadows near "Big Donut".
- Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the wall if rewinding after wall riding in the special room you can go to from a pipe in "Shy Guy Bazaar".
- Fixed an issue where the player would still fall into the lava even though they have "Smart Steering" ON in "Dry Bones Burnout".
- Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill while rail riding in "Wario Stadium".
- Fixed an issue where the player would not be able to glide if getting on a glide panel while gliding in the race that heads from "Wario Stadium" to "Airship Fortress".
- Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground while heading from "Wario Stadium" to "Airship Fortress".
- Fixed an issue where the vehicle would float up from the rail when the player did a rail ride after a wall ride in a bike-type vehicle in "Wario Stadium".
- Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill on the shortcut while heading from "Dandelion Depths" to "Cheep Cheep Falls" in the "Ice Rally" of "Knockout Tour".
- Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course while gliding, while heading from "Dandelion Depths" to "Cheep Cheep Falls" in the "Moon Rally" of "Knockout Tour".
- Fixed an issue where a green shell would get stuck on the ground while heading from "Airship Fortress" to "Dry Bones Burnout" in the "Heart Rally" of "Knockout Tour".
Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when they transformed into Bullet Bill on top of a building in "Crown City" in the below races:
- Race that heads from "DK Spaceport" to "Crown City".
- Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Crown City".
- Race that heads from "Faraway Oasis" to "Crown City".
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
This update is a clear indication that Nintendo is committed to supporting Mario Kart World and listening to its player base. But here's where it gets controversial... do these changes go far enough? Are there other features you'd like to see added in future updates? What kind of custom item sets will you be creating? Let us know in the comments below!
