Since the Booster Course Pass is paid DLC, the Nintendo Direct announcement never specified whether anyone who doesn’t purchase the pass would be able to try out these tracks on online multiplayer. It has since been discovered that, yes, that will be the case.

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On Nintendo’s own website, the small print mentions that courses from the first wave of new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe courses can be played in either local or online multiplayer with friends as long as one person has access to the DLC. From March 22nd, four days after the first wave releases, those courses will start appearing in the Random selection when playing online with anyone.

The small print doesn’t say anything about subsequent waves, but it’s safe to assume that the same will apply to those too. After all, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate never prevented those who didn’t purchase its DLC from playing against those with DLC characters or fighting on the DLC stages, so it wouldn’t make sense for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to not do the same.

As a reminder, the Booster Course Pass will consist of 48 tracks split across six waves of eight, which will be released throughout the rest of the year and 2023. The first wave arrives on March 18th and includes Paris Promenade, Tokyo Blur, and Ninja Hideaway from Mario Kart Tour, Toad Circuit from Mario Kart 7, Choco Mountain from Mario Kart 64, Coconut Mall from Mario Kart Wii, Shroom Bridge from Mario Kart DS, and Sky Garden from Mario Kart: Super Circuit.

Anyone who is subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be able to access this DLC for no extra cost, although only for as long as they are subscribed. Anyone who cancels their subscription will then need to purchase the DLC separately.

The release of this DLC raises further questions about the status of the next Mario Kart game. Rumors pointed to it potentially adding guest stars from other Nintendo franchises, but with the DLC lasting until the end of 2023, Nintendo likely won’t acknowledge a new entry until 2024 at the absolute earliest.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available for Nintendo Switch.

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Source: Nintendo