Mario Kart World Update to Add Classic Tracks for Free Later Today

Nintendo has revealed that a Mario Kart World update will add classic SNES tracks, Knockout Tour courses, and more today.

The company announced the news as part of its September 2026 Nintendo Direct today. While there are no new playable characters or outfits in Mario Kart World (yet), the new update should arrive as a welcome surprise to players who have been looking for a reason to grab the wheel following its Nintendo Switch 2 launch last summer.

A total of 10 classic courses have been added as part of the update. As a bonus, these courses feature old-school item tiles instead of the flashier floating boxes. For the Knockout Tour courses, players can look forward to two new routes to race through.

A free update for Mario Kart World launches later today! Play 10 classic courses from Super Mario Kart in VS Race mode and two new Knockout tour routes. #NintendoDirect Get the update: pic.twitter.com/1FIL2jzzQY — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 9, 2026

A free update for Mario Kart World launches later today! Play 10 classic courses from Super Mario Kart in VS Race mode and two new Knockout tour routes. #NintendoDirect Get the update: pic.twitter.com/1FIL2jzzQY

"Classic courses from Super Mario Kart have been hiding in plain sight across the continent of Mario Kart World, and now 10 of them can be played as standalone races in VS Race," Nintendo said in a press release. "Tear through Choco Island, Vanilla Lake, Ghost Valley and more, complete with ? Panels that grant items just like in the Super NES original. The update also adds two new Knockout Tour routes, Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally, plus a Spectator Mode when playing with friends online or via LAN Play."

Everything shown during today's Nintendo Direct trailer will arrive when Mario Kart World update 1.8.0 launches free for Switch 2 players later today. Patch notes for the update are already available, so you can see the full list of every classic track joining with the update below.

Courses you can choose from Mario Circuit SNES Mario Circuit 1 SNES Mario Circuit 2 SNES Mario Circuit 3

Courses you can choose from Ghost Valley SNES Ghost Valley 1 SNES Ghost Valley 2 SNES Ghost Valley 3

Courses you can choose from Choco Mountain SNES Choco Island 1 SNES Choco Island 2

Course you can choose from Sky-High Sundae SNES Vanilla Lake 1

Course you can choose from Koopa Beach SNES Koopa Beach 1

Notes: Item panels will appear on these courses instead of item boxes. Item boxes will appear on the race that leads to Mario Circuit.

Mario Kart World Update 1.8.0 Reveal Trailer - Screenshots

In case you forgot, this is Nintendo’s second Direct of the week. For everything announced during yesterday’s Zelda Direct, click here . For everything announced during today’s Direct, click here .

Finally, you can check out the full patch notes below.

Mario Kart World Update Ver. 1.8.0 Patch Notes

Latest update: Ver. 1.8.0 (Released September 9, 2026)

Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally have been added to Knockout Tour. You can select these if you have played one of the rallies in Knockout Tour.

You can select these if you have played one of the rallies in Knockout Tour.

The following courses have been added to VS Race, Time Trials, and races in Online Play and Wireless Play. Courses you can choose from Mario Circuit SNES Mario Circuit 1 SNES Mario Circuit 2 SNES Mario Circuit 3 Courses you can choose from Ghost Valley SNES Ghost Valley 1 SNES Ghost Valley 2 SNES Ghost Valley 3 Courses you can choose from Choco Mountain SNES Choco Island 1 SNES Choco Island 2 Course you can choose from Sky-High Sundae SNES Vanilla Lake 1 Course you can choose from Koopa Beach SNES Koopa Beach 1 Notes: Item panels will appear on these courses instead of item boxes. Item boxes will appear on the race that leads to Mario Circuit.

The time for each lap is now displayed in Time Trials.

The color of the time difference between the player and ghost data in Time Trials has been changed. When the player time is faster than the ghost, the color is red. When the player time is slower than the ghost, the color is blue.

When the player time is faster than the ghost, the color is red.

When the player time is slower than the ghost, the color is blue.

A filter was added to the frame that appears when using Photo Mode on the pause menu.

You can now use the Y Button to switch the camera to the player’s perspective while spectating or playing in races, Knockout Tour, or Battle mode.

You can now use the R Button to view participants’ real-time rankings when spectating during races or Knockout Tour.

You can now switch to Spectator Mode when playing in a room in Online Play or LAN Play. This mode only allows players to watch the game without participating. Press the Y Button from the pause menu after joining a room to switch to Spectator Mode.

This mode only allows players to watch the game without participating.

Press the Y Button from the pause menu after joining a room to switch to Spectator Mode.

Up to 26 players can now join a room in Online Play or LAN Play. Up to 24 people can join the game. When there are 24 participants, no one else can join the room until a participant switches to Spectator Mode.

When there are 24 participants, no one else can join the room until a participant switches to Spectator Mode.

The amount of rate fluctuation in races now varies according to the length of the course.

The method for calculating rates when the score is the same in Battle has changed.

Adjusted slipperiness when covered in Blooper ink.

Decreased the number of times that Green Shells, Coin Shells, fireballs, ice balls and Boomerangs bounce off walls.

Reduced the amount of time it takes to return to normal after getting crushed by a Thwomp.

Increased the amount of time you won’t take damage from Boo after it takes an item from you.

Adjusted the probability of obtaining items from item boxes in races and Knockout Tour.

Auto-Use Item can now be used even when set to Custom Items.

Made it possible to see the following items your rivals may be holding: Coin, ? Block, Kamek, Blooper, Feather, Fire Flower, Ice Flower, Boomerang, Hammer.

Coin, ? Block, Kamek, Blooper, Feather, Fire Flower, Ice Flower, Boomerang, Hammer.

You can no longer wall ride around the edge of the road in Ghost Valley.

Buoys have been added to the race leading from Acorn Heights and Dry Bones Burnout to Boo Cinema.

Fixed an issue where swinging the controller while jumping at the end of a rail could cause you to jump higher than usual. Time Trials ghosts affected by this issue may be removed from View Rankings without prior notice.

Time Trials ghosts affected by this issue may be removed from View Rankings without prior notice.

Fixed an issue where, after a crash, a player might become trapped after being pushed by a car driving down the road.

Fixed an issue in Free Roam where opening the map just before entering a pipe could make the controls inoperable.

Fixed an issue where a Spiny Shell would ride along the rail in reverse direction.

Fixed an issue where, after going off-track on certain courses, the player would sometimes respawn significantly further ahead.

Fixed an issue in Bowser's Castle where a player could get stuck on the lava waterfall while moving through it as a Bullet Bill.

Fixed an issue where players would pass through walls when using the Feather in Dandelion Depths.

Fixed an issue in Crown City where the finish line tape would disappear after crossing the finish line.

Fixed an issue where the final ranking could be wrong when using a Feather to take a shortcut on Mario Circuit.

Fixed an issue where driving along the outer edge of a corner on Wario Stadium could cause the player to go off-course.

Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).