New Mario Kart World update adds a long-awaited fan feature and track changes
It's time to hit the track in Mario Kart World
đ The latest Mario Kart World update has added some long-awaited fan features
đ¶ Itâs now possible to check what music is playing when you pause a race
â You can also set custom items to appear in a race, and there have been some course layout changes
đ This is the seventh update for Mario Kart World since its launch alongside the Switch 2 in June 2025
A new Mario Kart World update has added a feature that fans have been asking for ever since the game launched.
The new update, which brings the game up to Version 1.4.0, adds the ability to finally see what music is playing when you pause a race or a race finishes.
Itâs now also possible to adjust music volume from your controller with a toggle added in the settings menu to do so, if you really want to crank up the gameâs superb soundtrack.
On the race side of things, Nintendoâs latest update has added the option to set custom items in the rules of a race. This works in the VS Race, Balloon Battle and Coin Runner modes, plus in the Room in Online and Wireless Play. It means you can have a race where everyone only gets Spikey Shells, for example.
The new update has also changed some course layouts in VS Race or Race modes in Online and Wireless Play to make them more engaging. The areas that have changed are:
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âDK Spaceportâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âCrown Cityâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âPeach Stadiumâ.
Race that heads from âWhistlestop Summitâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âDesert Hillsâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âDK Spaceportâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âCrown Cityâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âPeach Stadiumâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
All races heading towards Koopa Troopa Beach, including the ones above, will also now finish after two laps once you arrive at the beach.
The full patch notes detail lots of other small changes during races and outside of them, such as the addition of âRestartâ and âNext Raceâ buttons in the pause menu when playing single player, and that you can select Photo Mode from the pause menu when running a time trial.
Beyond these marquee changes, there are loads of other gameplay issues that have been fixed with this update â this is the seventh major update for Mario Kart World since the game released alongside the Switch 2 in June.
Fans were left unhappy by a previous Mario Kart World update that changed the way that some random multiplayer races worked, switching from the conventional 3-lap race to ones with a rolling start. However, Nintendo appears to be on the right track with the last few updates as they directly address fansâ key requests.
Mario Kart World version 1.4.0 update patch notes
Added âCustom Itemsâ to the item rules.
This is a feature that lets you set which items appear.
This is supported in âVS Raceâ, âBalloon Battleâ, âCoin Runnersâ, and âRoomâ in âOnline Playâ or âWireless Playâ.
Made it so that music track name and source title of the track that is playing will be displayed on the Pause Menu.
Added âMusic Volumeâ to âSettings/Controllerâ.
Made it so players who gathered in a âRoomâ of âOnline Playâ can participate in âRaceâ, âKnockout Tourâ, and âBattleâ.
Up to 4 players can participate in âRaceâ, âKnockout Tourâ, and âBattleâ.
Made it so you can join in with friends who are playing âKnockout Tourâ from âFriendsâ in â2pâ, âOnline Playâ as well.
Added âRestartâ and âNext Raceâ in the Pause Menu for âVS Raceâ in âSingle Playerâ.
Made it so you can select âPhoto Modeâ from the Pause Menu in âRace against Ghostâ in âTime Trialsâ.
Changed the course layout of below courses for âVS Raceâ, or âRaceâ in âOnline Playâ or âWireless Playâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âDK Spaceportâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âCrown Cityâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âPeach Stadiumâ.
Race that heads from âWhistlestop Summitâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âDesert Hillsâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âDK Spaceportâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âCrown Cityâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
Race that heads from âPeach Stadiumâ to âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
*Changed it so that, in all races heading toward âKoopa Troopa Beachâ, including the above courses, you will cross the finish line after two laps once you arrive at âKoopa Troopa Beachâ.
You will now dash when riding on Manta Rampâs 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 âFocusâ âCharacterâ when taking a photo in âPhoto Modeâ 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 âOnline Playâ.
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 âOnline Playâ.
Fixed an issue where a friendâs information would not be updated when looking at the list of friends in âFriendsâ in âOnline Playâ.
Fixed an issue where there would be a communication error when looking at a group ID in âView Room Infoâ when participating in a group in âFriendsâ in âOnline Playâ.
Fixed an issue where a playerâs place would go down if retiring during âKnockout Tourâ in âOnline Playâ.
Fixed an issue where a player that is seen when spectating looks like they are going off the course over and over during âKnockout Tourâ in âOnline Playâ or âWireless Playâ.
Fixed an issue where the playerâs own character or vehicle would change when starting âOnline Playâ or âWireless Playâ again after quitting a game after âKnockout Tourâ in âOnline Playâ or âWireless Playâ.
Fixed an issue where a player would get stuck on a wall when using a Bullet Bill while falling off the course in âSky-High Sundaeâ.
Fixed an issue where a Bullet Bill would go outside the course when using it on the final curve in âBoo Cinemaâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would slip through a bulldozer in âToadâs Factoryâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a spotlight in the race that heads from âToadâs Factoryâ to âBowserâs Castleâ when transformed into Bullet Bill.
Fixed an issue where if the player used a Bullet Bill or Spiny Shell in the first curve of âDesert Hillsâ, 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 âDK Passâ.
Fixed an issue where, when the player was small because of Lightning, they would slip through the wall on the final curve of âDK Pass.
Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a billboard when transforming into Bullet Bill in the race that heads from âCrown Cityâ to âDesert Hillsâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ring of stone when using a Bullet Bill or Mega Mushroom while falling in âGreat ? Block Ruinsâ right before the final curve.
Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground on the meadows near âBig Donutâ.
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 âShy Guy Bazaarâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would still fall into the lava even though they have âSmart Steeringâ ON in âDry Bones Burnoutâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill while rail riding in âWario Stadiumâ.
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 âWario Stadiumâ to âAirship Fortressâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground while heading from âWario Stadiumâ to âAirship Fortressâ.
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 âWario Stadiumâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill on the shortcut while heading from âDandelion Depthsâ to âCheep Cheep Fallsâ in the âIce Rallyâ of âKnockout Tourâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course while gliding, while heading from âDandelion Depthsâ to âCheep Cheep Fallsâ in the âMoon Rallyâ of âKnockout Tourâ.
Fixed an issue where a green shell would get stuck on the ground while heading from âAirship Fortressâ to âDry Bones Burnoutâ in the âHeart Rallyâ of âKnockout Tourâ.
Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when they transformed into Bullet Bill on top of a building in âCrown Cityâ in the below races:
Race that heads from âDK Spaceportâ to âCrown Cityâ.
Race that heads from âKoopa Troopa Beachâ to âCrown Cityâ.
Race that heads from âFaraway Oasisâ to âCrown Cityâ.
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
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Reece Bithrey is a journalist with bylines for Trusted Reviews, Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, TechRadar and more. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED, and graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in International History and Politics in 2023.