Mario Kart World Free Update Adds 10 Retro Tracks and New Knockout Tours Today

During a Nintendo Direct broadcast today, Nintendo announced and released a brand-new free content update for Mario Kart World. The Version 1.8.0 update is available starting today, September 9, 2026, delivering retro tracks and new game modes for players to experience.

The headline feature of the update is the addition of 10 classic circuits from the original 1992 SNES title, Super Mario Kart. These retro tracks include well-known stages such as Choco Island (specifically SNES Choco Island 1 and Choco Island 2, which are accessible under the standard Choco Mountain track), Vanilla Lake, and Ghost Valley. Players can access these 10 courses for standalone races in Versus (VS) Mode.

To capture the authentic feel of the 1992 classic, the retro courses feature flat, ground-based Question Mark (?) panels. Driving over these panels will grant players items, mirroring the exact mechanic used in the original SNES game decades ago.

In addition to the retro tracks, the Version 1.8.0 update introduces new content for the game's battle royale-style Knockout Tour mode. Players can now compete across two new routes called the Propeller Rally (also referred to as the Propeller Tour) and the Turnip Rally (also referred to as the Turnip Tour), offering a fresh sequence of tracks for competitive multiplayer racing.