The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is a paid DLC expansion for the Nintendo Switch that effectively doubles the game's track count by adding 48 remastered courses. These tracks were released in six waves between 2022 and late 2023, bringing the total course count to 96. Access and Exclusivity

The DLC is not included in the base physical cartridge (unless you specifically purchase the revised "002" cartridge which includes all DLC on-cart). You can access it through two main methods:

Stand-alone Purchase: Available for $24.99 as a digital code via the Nintendo eShop.

Subscription Benefit: Included at no additional cost for active members of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Note that if your subscription expires, you lose access to the tracks unless you purchase the pass separately. Content Highlights

Course Variety: Includes classic tracks like Wii Coconut Mall, N64 Choco Mountain, and 3DS Rainbow Road, alongside city-themed tracks originally from Mario Kart Tour such as Paris Promenade and Tokyo Blur.

Characters: Beyond tracks, the pass eventually added new playable characters not found in the original base game roster, including Birdo, Petey Piranha, Wiggler, Kamek, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette.

Mii Costumes: Exclusive Mii racing suits were also introduced as part of the updates. Gameplay and Unlocks

While the base game has many unlockables (like the Gold Mario character for winning all 200cc cups), the Booster Course Pass itself focuses primarily on providing immediate access to new content.

Mario Kart™ 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass for Nintendo Switch

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is a massive expansion that effectively doubles the game's original track count, bringing the total to 96 courses. Released in six waves between 2022 and late 2023, it includes remastered tracks from throughout the series' history. Key Features & Content

48 Additional Tracks: The pass adds 12 new cups featuring courses from classic titles (like Coconut Mall and Choco Mountain) and brand-new city tracks originally seen in the mobile game, Mario Kart Tour.

8 New Playable Characters: Beyond tracks, the DLC introduced a roster of returning favorites including Birdo, Petey Piranha, Kamek, Wiggler, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette.

Online and Local Play: All added courses are fully playable in local multiplayer, online play, and 200cc mode. How to Access the DLC

There are two primary ways to get the content through the Nintendo eShop:

Direct Purchase: You can buy the pass as a one-time standalone purchase for roughly $24.99.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Subscribers to this premium tier of Nintendo Switch Online get access to the DLC at no extra cost for as long as their membership remains active. Exclusive Tips for Success

Master the Tour Tracks: Many of the Tour courses (like Tokyo Blur) feature dynamic layouts where the path changes every lap. Learning these transitions is key to staying ahead.

Brake Drifting: On high-speed 200cc tracks, mastering "brake drifting"—tapping the B button while holding a drift—is essential for making tight turns without flying off the edge.

Multiplayer Loophole: If you are playing online with a friend who owns the DLC, you can often play the new tracks even if you haven't purchased the pass yourself.

Criticism and Controversy

The BCP wasn’t without flaws:

• Inconsistent visuals – Early waves had flat textures, low-poly trees, and missing animations (e.g., no sunset in Sunset Wilds).
• No new battle courses – Despite 48 tracks, not a single battle stage was added.
• Missing fan favorites – Where is Airship Fortress (DS) or Toad’s Factory (Wii)?
• Tour asset reuse – Many tracks were directly ported from the mobile game, including ramp layouts and coin placements.

Still, for $24.99 (or included with NSO+EP), the value is undeniable: less than $0.55 per course.

What “DLC + Exclusive” Means Here

• DLC: Paid downloadable content sold in waves or as a season pass. Players buy it to unlock the remastered courses.
• Exclusive: Often refers to course availability only via this official DLC (i.e., you can’t get these exact remastered tracks without purchasing the Booster Course Pass). Sometimes fans refer to exclusive in relation to temporary in-game bonuses or outfits bundled with the DLC.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass DLC + Exclusive — What You Need to Know

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass (BCP) is Nintendo’s biggest post-launch expansion for the Switch kart racer, and the “DLC + Exclusive” angle has driven a lot of excitement — and debate — across the community. Here’s a concise, reader-friendly breakdown you can use as a blog post: why it matters, what’s included, the value proposition, community reaction, and final takeaways.

6. New Items (Exclusive to BCP)

• Feather (from Super Mario Kart) – Returns exclusively in BCP tracks like Sky-High Sundae and Squeaky Clean Sprint. Allows short jump/gap skipping.
  (Not in base MK8D except for certain battle modes in original Wii U version? No – in Deluxe, Feather is BCP-only for racing.)
• Capsule (Honorable mention) – In BCP, some Tour tracks have unique item crates (Capsules) that give special items like Super Bell or Ice Flower, but these aren’t new to MK8D’s engine—still exclusive as track-specific variants.

What Does "MarioKart8DeluxeNSP" Mean?

First, let's decode the keyword. NSP stands for Nintendo Submission Package. It is the file format used for digital games, updates, and DLC on the Nintendo Switch. When users search for "MarioKart8DeluxeNSP," they are typically looking for the complete digital package of the game. In the context of the full keyword, it refers to a digital version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that already includes the Booster Course Pass DLC alongside any exclusive add-ons or pre-order bonuses.

It is critical to note: The only legitimate way to obtain the NSP is via the official Nintendo eShop. Purchasing the game digitally automatically downloads the base NSP file. The Booster Course Pass is then downloaded as additional DLC (update files). For the best experience, we always recommend acquiring the game and DLC through official channels to ensure online play, system integrity, and access to future updates.

Part 3: The "Exclusive" Factor – What Can’t You Get Elsewhere?

The "Exclusive" tag in our keyword is critical. Here is what makes the Booster Course Pass DLC unique compared to the standard physical cartridge or base digital download.

Part 1: What is "MarioKart8DeluxeNSP"?

In the realm of Nintendo Switch digital distribution, NSP stands for Nintendo Submission Package. Essentially, it is the file format used for downloadable software from the eShop.

When you see the keyword MarioKart8DeluxeNSP, it usually refers to the base game file (Version 1.0) used within certain emulation environments (like Ryujinx or Yuzu) or custom firmware setups (Atmosphere on an actual Switch). The base game alone is impressive, offering 48 tracks, 42 characters, and the revamped Battle Mode.

However, the base NSP is just the starting line. The magic happens when you layer on the updates.