Mario Kart World is rolling out patch 1.3.0, and with it comes some significant upgrades. The update adds a new way to play online with friends, introduces a series of improvements to Free Roam, and hints—though still rather vaguely—that the frequency of three-lap races might be increased.
Nintendo’s patch notes for updates are often light on details. For instance, the most recent system update for Switch 2 simply included the phrase, “General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience,” with no further clarification. The previous patch for Mario Kart World (1.1.2) was similarly sparse, consisting of only a single sentence. So, the more detailed notes for patch 1.3.0 are a welcome change.
The headline feature of the update is the ability to join friends online in Knockout Tour, in addition to the standard Race and Battle modes. Another improvement allows players to join Free Roam if a Knockout Tour, Race, or Battle lobby is full. Instead of waiting in a queue, you and a friend can cruise around together in Free Roam—definitely a better option than staring at a loading screen.
In terms of Free Roam, the update adds the ability to see previously discovered P Switches and Peach Medallions on the map, which should help players avoid retracing their steps. The previously discovered P Switches will also now serve as quick travel points, although the exact location they’ll take you to remains somewhat vague—the patch notes state it’ll move you “to a location near the P Switch.”
For racing, one notable improvement is a faster item box respawn rate. Item boxes will now replenish more quickly after being picked up, and players will also enjoy longer invincibility periods after being hit or spun out.
The most anticipated change, however, is the increased frequency of three-lap races in "wireless" play. This was a widely requested feature when the game launched, and although a similar tweak was promised in a patch back in July, many players felt it didn’t have much of an impact. It remains unclear whether the new increase will address that frustration, especially since the patch notes only mention "wireless" races and not "online" races. Whether this distinction is intentional or a mistake remains to be seen. Players continue to wonder why Nintendo hasn’t made this a toggleable feature—especially given how much the company seems to favor the continuous race mode in Mario Kart World, to the dismay of many.
The update also includes adjustments to UFOs in Free Roam and fixes for a variety of minor issues. However, it looks like we’re still some time away from new or classic courses being added to the game—an update many fans are eagerly awaiting.
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