About
Mario Kart 8 is a racing game that originally launched on Wii U in 2014. The title has proven remarkably durable in Nintendo's lineup, receiving ongoing support well into the current generation. The game recently received a major update following the Switch 2 announcement, introducing version 4.0.0 with improved visuals among other enhancements. This continued investment underscores how Nintendo has maintained the game as a platform centerpiece, despite the existence of newer entries like Mario Kart World. The update reflects the publisher's commitment to sustaining the decade-old racer as a key franchise title.
Timeline
3 moments- May 29, 2014 Released
- Dec 5, 2014 Won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2014
- Dec 5, 2014 Won Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2014
More in the Mario Kart series
All 11 games in order
Games like Mario Kart 8
same kind of game, other series
Media
Releases
Platform
Date
May 29, 2014
First release date; per-platform dates are not in the database for this game yet.
In the news
4 storiesMario Kart 8 patch stops Switch 2 players from being bombarded with more obstacles than on Switch 1
1 outlet · Oct 14, 2026
Mario Kart 8 Refuses to Let the Switch 2 Rule Nintendo
1 outlet · Sep 5, 2026
Mario Kart 8 gets major Switch 2 update, leaving Mario Kart World in the dust and further solidifying the 12-year-old racing game as Nintendo's favorite child
2 outlets · Sep 2, 2026
Mario Kart 8's surprise Switch 2 update makes everyone faster "by the equivalent of one coin," decimating world records everywhere
1 outlet · Sep 2, 2026