Nintendo just dropped a surprise, and racing fans are already downloading it. The new Mario Kart World update, version 1.7.0, is live on Nintendo Switch 2, and it is bigger than a quick bug fix. Two fresh Knockout Tour routes headline the patch, joined by character speed buffs, new Photo Mode stickers, a stack of balance tweaks, and a long list of fixes. Here is everything the update adds, explained clearly and point by point, with every change confirmed against Nintendo’s official patch notes.
| Quick Answer The Mario Kart World update 1.7.0 went live on July 1, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2. Its headline additions are two new Knockout Tour routes, Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally, which unlock once you clear at least one Knockout Tour rally, bringing the total to ten. The update also raises acceleration for slower characters and vehicles, boosts gliding speed for faster ones, adds stickers to Photo Mode, and makes many balance changes, including letting players hop immediately after a Kamek or Bullet Bill hit. Nintendo confirmed more Knockout Tour routes are planned for future updates. |
Key Takeaways
- The Mario Kart World update7.0 is live now on Nintendo Switch 2, free for all players.
- Two new Knockout Tour routes, Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally, bring the total to ten.
- Character and vehicle buffs raise acceleration for slower racers and gliding speed for faster ones.
- Photo Mode now supports stickers, and the map gets a new ramp plus many fixes.
- Nintendo confirmed more Knockout Tour routes are coming in future updates.
What’s New in the Mario Kart World Update
Nintendo released the free 1.7.0 update on July 1, 2026, for the Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World. As detailed on the official Nintendo news page, it is a substantial patch rather than a minor tune-up. The changes fall into a few clear groups, and here is the quick overview before the detail.
- New content. Two new Knockout Tour routes and new Photo Mode stickers.
- Balance changes. Speed buffs for certain characters and vehicles, plus a range of racing tweaks.
- Quality of life. A new map ramp, Thai language support, and a long list of bug fixes.
| Worth Knowing Mario Kart World is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, so this update applies only to that system. The download rolls out automatically, and you can also trigger it manually from the game’s icon on the Home menu. |
Two New Knockout Tour Routes: Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally
The star of the update is a pair of brand-new Knockout Tour routes. According to Nintendo, Drill Rally connects Wario Shipyard and Bowser’s Castle, while Boomerang Rally connects Salty Salty Speedway and Whistlestop Summit. Both trace long paths across the open world, taking in a series of familiar circuits along the way.
| New Route | Connects | Notable Stops Along the Way |
| Drill Rally | Wario Shipyard to Bowser’s Castle | DK Pass, Dandelion Depths, Mario Circuit, Dry Bones Burnout |
| Boomerang Rally | Salty Salty Speedway to Whistlestop Summit | Cheep Cheep Falls, Moo Moo Meadows, Choco Mountain, Mario Bros Circuit |
There is one condition to unlock them. Both routes become selectable only after you clear at least one Knockout Tour rally. If you have not tried the mode yet, run a single rally first and the new options appear. As VGC detailed in its route breakdown, these two additions bring Mario Kart World to ten Knockout Tour routes in total, up from the eight available at launch.
| The Cool Part These are not just reshuffled versions of old tracks. Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally are distinct named routes with their own paths across the map, giving Knockout Tour regulars genuinely fresh ground to race. |
What Is Knockout Tour?
If you are new to Mario Kart World, here is why these routes matter. Knockout Tour is a survival-style racing mode where you drive from one end of the vast open world to the other. Each race starts with 24 drivers and passes through five checkpoints.
The twist is elimination. At every checkpoint, if you are not placed high enough in the pack, you are knocked out of the race. Only the fastest survive to the finish. The mode has been one of the game’s most praised features since launch, which is why new routes are such a welcome addition.
Character and Vehicle Buffs
This update also rebalances speed across the roster. Nintendo raised the acceleration of characters and vehicles that previously had low acceleration, helping slower builds get up to pace faster. It also raised the gliding speed of characters that already had high speed, along with some other characters and vehicles.
| Please Note Nintendo did not name which specific characters or vehicles received these buffs. The official notes describe the changes by stat, such as low acceleration or high speed, rather than by name, so the exact winners will become clear as players test the roster. |
Gameplay and Balance Changes
Beyond the speed buffs, version 1.7.0 makes a wave of gameplay adjustments that will reshape how races feel. Here are the confirmed changes from Nintendo’s patch notes.
- Faster recovery. You can now hop right away after being hit by Kamek’s magic or a Bullet Bill, removing a frustrating window of lost control.
- Jump Boost tweak. Nintendo adjusted the conditions for doing a Jump Boost by shaking the controller when racing on water.
- Longer landing dash. Landing on rivals now gives a longer dash time afterward, making the move more rewarding.
- Slipstream control. You can now stop a slipstream by braking before the slipstream fully starts.
- Item rate change. Nintendo adjusted how often players get items from item boxes in both standard races and Knockout Tour.
- Super Horn visibility. You can now see when a rival is holding a Super Horn, useful information in a tight race.
Photo Mode, Map, and Other Additions
The update rounds out with a mix of creative, map, and housekeeping changes.
- Photo Mode stickers. You can now place stickers you have collected onto your photos, using either touch or mouse controls.
- New map ramp. Nintendo added a ramp to the race that heads from Airship Fortress to Bowser’s Castle, smoothing that route.
- Thai language support. You can now set the game to Thai under System Settings, then System, then Language.
- Many bug fixes. The patch fixes numerous course issues, including players falling off certain tracks and an incorrect finish-line time in Time Trials.
| Good to Know The bug fixes target very specific spots, such as shortcuts and rail sections on individual routes. If a particular course was giving you trouble before, there is a good chance this update quietly smooths it out. |
What’s Next for Mario Kart World?
Nintendo made one thing clear in the patch notes: this is not the last of the new content. The company confirmed that additional Knockout Tour routes are planned for future updates, so the mode will keep growing over time.
What Nintendo has not announced is any paid downloadable content roadmap. For context, the previous game, Mario Kart 8, eventually more than doubled its track count through paid expansions, so many fans are watching for a similar move here. For now, though, the additions are arriving as free updates. To see what else Nintendo has been lining up for its console, our recap of the Nintendo Direct from June 2026 covers the wider Switch 2 slate for the rest of the year.
| Your Move Want every Nintendo and gaming update as it lands? Browse our Gaming section for the latest confirmed news and guides. |
The Mario Kart World update 1.7.0 is a genuinely meaty patch for a game that keeps getting better. Two new Knockout Tour routes give the game’s best mode fresh life, the balance changes should shake up the racing meta, and the smaller touches like Photo Mode stickers and map fixes add real polish. Best of all, it is completely free.
With Nintendo promising even more routes down the road, Mario Kart World is shaping up as a game that will keep growing well into the future. Update your Switch 2, clear a Knockout Tour rally, and go try Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally for yourself. The open road just got a little longer.
