Mario Kart World Update 1.7.0 Surprises with Two New Knockout Tour Routes and Photo Mode Stickers

Nearly 13 months after its record-breaking launch, Nintendo has dropped a surprise free update for Mario Kart World. Version 1.7.0 arrives on June 30, adding two new routes to the popular Knockout Tour mode, Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally, alongside a creative sticker system for Photo Mode, balance tweaks, and bug fixes. This update signals Nintendo's continued commitment to expanding the game's marquee mode, even as the best-selling Switch 2 title remains a platform sales driver.

For players who have spent months mastering the existing eight Knockout Tour routes, the addition of two fresh marathons offers meaningful new challenges. Nintendo has also confirmed that more routes are on the horizon, suggesting the mode's evolution is far from over.

Two New Knockout Tour Routes Expand the Marathon

Knockout Tour pits 24 drivers against each other across six connected tracks, with the bottom four racers eliminated at each of five checkpoints. It is a grueling endurance test that rewards consistency and track knowledge. Before update 1.7.0, the mode offered eight distinct routes. Now, players can tackle two new ones.

Drill Rally connects Wario Shipyard to Bowser's Castle, threading through underground and volcanic courses. The path descends from murky docks into caverns and magma-filled arenas before culminating in the fiery fortress, offering a stark contrast in environments across a single rally.

Boomerang Rally takes a different approach, forming a boomerang-shaped path across six courses that links Salty Salty Speedway to Whistlestop Summit. The looping route allows drivers to experience the map's varied biomes, coastal beaches, mountain climbs, and forested roads, in a single continuous race. The shape itself adds a navigational twist: the second half of the rally retraces some ground at a different angle, testing players' ability to adapt to familiar sections from new perspectives.

Both new routes unlock after clearing at least one existing Knockout Tour rally, making them immediately accessible to players who have already dipped into the mode. With these additions, the total number of Knockout Tour routes now stands at ten. Nintendo has stated that "additional Knockout Tour routes are also planned for future updates," though no specific number or timeline has been provided. If Nintendo keeps adding routes at this pace, Knockout Tour could easily rival Mario Kart's classic Grand Prix in variety and replay value.

This expansion directly addresses one of the few criticisms leveled at the mode at launch: limited variety. With eight routes, repeat play was inevitable. Ten routes, and the promise of more, give the mode greater longevity for the dedicated players who treat Knockout Tour as the game's premier competitive experience. On Reddit, several players have expressed excitement, with one r/mariokart user calling the new rallies "exactly what the mode needed."

Photo Mode Gets Creative with Sticker Placement

Mario Kart World's Photo Mode has been a popular tool for sharing race highlights and scenic shots, but update 1.7.0 adds a new layer of creative expression. Players can now place collected stickers onto their in-game photos using touch controls or the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode. Stickers can be combined with existing frames, allowing for layered compositions.

The sticker system draws from a library of unlockable art that players accumulate through gameplay, character portraits, item icons, course symbols, and decorative elements. Placing them on photos opens up possibilities for memes, narrative storytelling, or simply dressing up a victory screenshot. The implementation via both touch and mouse controls ensures precision placement, whether players are using handheld mode or the Switch 2's desktop configuration.

This feature taps into the same social sharing impulse that has made Mario Kart World's screenshot capabilities popular on social media. While it may seem like a minor addition, sticker placement can significantly enhance the personality of shared images, encouraging more players to engage with Photo Mode and share their creations.

Balance Adjustments and Bug Fixes

Nintendo has also issued several gameplay tweaks that respond to community feedback. The key changes include:

• Low-acceleration builds: Acceleration buff (faster starts, better corner exit) makes heavier vehicles more viable in competitive play.
• High-speed characters: Gliding speed buff during airborne sections rewards players who maintain top speed before ramps.

On the localization front, update 1.7.0 adds support for the Thai language, expanding accessibility for a growing market. Nintendo has been steadily broadening language support across its ecosystem, and this update brings Mario Kart World in line with other first-party titles.

Bug fixes address several course-specific issues, including a wall-clipping exploit in Bowser's Castle and a glitch that caused Dry Bones to fall through the ground in the Dry Bones Burnout course. Numerous other stability fixes are included in the full patch notes available via Nintendo's support portal.

A Steady Evolution for Nintendo's Flagship Racer

Mario Kart World launched June 5, 2025 exclusively on Switch 2 and has sold 14.7 million copies, making it the best-selling title on the platform. Its 86 Metacritic score reflects widespread critical acclaim, though the controversial $79.99 price point sparked debate at launch. The game's ongoing post-launch support, including last year's 1.6.0 update, which added Bob-omb Blast battle mode and over 50 balance changes, has helped sustain player interest.

Update 1.7.0 may seem modest on paper, two new routes, sticker support, and a handful of tweaks, but it reflects Nintendo's steady approach to enriching a game that already dominates the Switch 2 library. The addition of Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally gives Knockout Tour fans more variety, while the Photo Mode stickers offer a creative outlet. With future routes confirmed and a track record of meaningful patches, Mario Kart World remains a living, evolving racer worth revisiting.

For players who have drifted away, this update provides a clear reason to return. And for those still grinding the ranked leaderboards, it offers fresh territory to conquer. Nintendo has made it clear that Mario Kart World's best-selling status is not the end of its journey, it is merely another checkpoint.