If you’re a fan of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you may have noticed that some characters handle better than others, but they often can’t reach the top speeds seen from some of the heavier characters. Nintendo has addressed this issue by providing a balance update, which buffs most light and medium characters’ speeds in the game, making them more competitive with the heavier competitors.
The Latest Update and Balancing Changes
The latest update version 2.3.0 from Nintendo contains a patch that improves the performance of some characters and vehicle customization. Most of the cast’s speeds were buffed, including ground, water, and anti-gravity speeds, which were increased by one point. Only heavier characters that can already reach top speeds, like Metal Mario, Gold Mario, Pink Gold Peach, Waluigi, and others, were excluded from the power-up. This buff is likely implemented to balance out the lighter characters with the heavyweights, so they can have a fair fight in the game.
Improved Turbo-Speeds
The update also came with improvements to the turbo-speeds for some characters. Lighter characters including Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Dry Bones, Small Mii, and a few others had their speeds improved slightly. Additionally, turbo has been improved for every vehicle tire except for Roller, Azure Roller, Button, and Leaf Tires.
Time Trials Fix
This update also fixed a bug in Time Trials. It’s no longer rounding up speeds to the full frame. This issue only occurred on Mount Wario or Big Blue tracks, and the game would round final times according to the frame count rather than the actual time. This change is beneficial to the competitive Mario Kart racers as they now have a fair go.
Why is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Getting the Update?
For Nintendo, their players’ satisfaction is their utmost priority. This latest update is an attempt to level the playing field for players during gameplay, such that everyone has a fair shot at winning a race. The last thing the developers would want is to have unbalanced characters in the game, making it less enjoyable to play. The updates will make the game more balanced and slightly more challenging, which will keep the excitement in the game constant for all players.
What to Expect Next
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has an ever-growing player base, so it’s safe to assume that there will be additional updates and new characters added to the roster regularly. Although nothing has been announced, players are still hoping Nintendo adds more courses and vehicles to the game. Nevertheless, it is great to see the developers prioritizing the gameplay experience and making sure players have an excellent time every time they play the game.
Conclusion
The recent Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update has made the game a little more balanced by boosting most lighter and medium characters’ speeds. This power-up has helped players have a fair fighting chance, and it is safe to assume they will make the game more enjoyable for everyone. Also, the improvements to the turbo-speeds and the bug fix on the Time Trials session are a welcome change to the game. As Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to grow, we can only expect more exciting updates and improvements to come.