Nintendo has updated Mario Kart World's approach to online course selection, a move that contradicts many players' preferences and highlights the game's divisive open-world structure.
Version 1.1.2 of Mario Kart World launched recently, and Nintendo's patch notes mention an adjustment to "courses selected in Random when selecting next course in a wireless VS Race."
Although the wording is confusing, this appears to be an intentional change by Nintendo to limit the effectiveness of the Random course option in VS mode—a feature fans had been using to avoid 'intermission tracks' wherever possible.
What exactly is an intermission track? This community term refers to the often extended open-world segments players must travel through to reach another nearby course, only to then compete in a single lap. The game typically suggests these nearby tracks as the next race option, forcing players to frequently experience an intermission track, unless they choose Random, which previously selected from anywhere on the map.
Players had been intentionally selecting Random to bypass intermission tracks, aiming instead to be placed directly at the starting line of a distant course. In those instances, players would enjoy the classic three-lap Mario Kart experience.
With this update, the Random option now also chooses from the pool of nearby courses the game suggests—making distant courses less likely and increasing the probability of intermission tracks.
As a lengthy discussion on the Restera forum points out, this adjustment goes against the preferred online playstyle for many Mario Kart World players, who want the ability to consistently race three laps per course in VS mode instead of just one after a lengthy open-world drive.
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Nintendo appears to have implemented this change in response to player habits, as anecdotal evidence suggested the use of the Random option was increasing. The update has since provoked a strong reaction.
"Nintendo has effectively stepped in and declared, 'No, you're supposed to play the game this way,'" wrote one player, GreenMamba. "They saw players asking for a more traditional online experience and did... the exact opposite."
The user also noted that this change will likely make Mario Kart World’s acclaimed Rainbow Road track even harder to encounter online. Widely considered one of the game’s best courses, Rainbow Road is only accessible through its specific Grand Prix in the open world, meaning online players relying on Random now have slimmer odds of playing it.
"Good luck ever seeing Rainbow Road online again," GreenMamba added. Another fan commented, "Thanks, I hate it. Let people race three-lap courses if that's what they want." A third wrote, "It feels like Nintendo isn’t really listening to feedback on this."
Some players have suggested that Nintendo should introduce a dedicated three-lap VS mode option alongside the current setup. Others argue that intermission tracks should be restricted to the Knockout Tour mode entirely.
While Mario Kart World’s open world has its merits—it can be a relaxing space to unwind after intense races and contains various discoveries—fans have consistently pointed out that the long stretches between main tracks simply aren't as engaging.
"The open highways aren't necessarily bad; some can even be enjoyable. However, they are often extremely wide and straight, leading to lengthy segments that lack the challenge and excitement of the curated courses," IGN noted in our Mario Kart World review.
For now, it seems players will encounter more of these open highways during VS mode sessions—though Nintendo’s long-term plans for Mario Kart World remain to be seen.
Explore our Mario Kart World guide to learn how to unlock every hidden character, understand Kamek Unlocks for accessing NPC Drivers, and locate all the food items scattered throughout the open world to permanently acquire every outfit and costume.
