Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports four-player local multiplayer on one Nintendo Switch console.
The game offers split-screen racing for up to four players when the console is used in TV mode or tabletop mode. Each participant can use a Joy-Con, a pair of Joy-Con controllers, a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or another compatible controller. The display divides into separate racing views so everyone can compete on the same console.
This local limit is different from the game’s broader multiplayer capabilities. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports larger races through wireless play and online multiplayer, with online races accommodating up to twelve players. Those modes use multiple consoles or internet connections, so they should not be confused with four-player split-screen play on one system.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launched in 2017 as an expanded version of Mario Kart 8. It includes the original game’s core racing system plus features such as returning battle modes, additional characters, and items. The Booster Course Pass later added many more courses, but it did not change the one-console local limit.