An unexpected difference between console versions
Recently, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received a major Ver. 4.0.0 update, which brought 8-player local multiplayer on Switch 2, camera support, faster loading times, and improved graphics. However, beyond the officially listed improvements in the changelog, observant players noticed an interesting feature that Nintendo kept quiet about.
As discovered by the GameXplain team, after installing the patch, the Switch 2 version features more track obstacles compared to the original Switch 1. In particular, an additional number of gas canisters and tire barriers appeared on the roadsides. Although most of these elements are located on the edges of the tracks, during intense races they could pose a serious problem for owners of the new console.
A bug or a new feature?
It is currently unknown whether the increased number of obstacles is an accidental cross-platform synchronization bug or an intentional graphical and gameplay decision by the developers. It is unlikely that Nintendo wanted to artificially make races harder for Switch 2 players, so the community leans toward the technical glitch explanation.
In addition, users are reporting some synchronization issues with Item Boxes in cross-play matches. We await official comments from Nintendo and a possible hotfix in the near future.
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