Update [Tue 20th Dec, 2022 03:45 GMT]: Dataminer OatmealDome has shed some light on last week's Mario Kart 7 update. It appears changes have been made to the game's netcode, and there's also been an update to stop Version 1.1 from being used with Version 1.2.
3DS homebrew developer and Mario Kart 7 modder PabloMK7 goes into a more detailed breakdown (via Twitter):
I have finished calculating the differences in the new Mario Kart 7 v1.2 update, here are all of them: Of the game's 20000+ functions: - 27 functions have been changed. - 2 new functions have been added. - A small compiler glitch disappeared.
Most of the changes and added functions are related to netcode, specifically, the handling of the communication protocol between players. None of the changes add new functionality or gameplay features (I cannot give more details, you will have to wait).
Some of the changes are related to parameters sent to the server so that players running v1.1 don't matchmake players running v1.2 during the time the update had just released, as already logged in players wouldn't be required to update until they reenter online mode.
One last change involved bumping the game's version number for when the game launches the in-game updater. This number is not used at all for checking for updates, only for starting the update, so unless the game updates again, this change will probably never be used
About the compiler glitch, there was a "-1" next to a particle related function that was unused, and has been removed. The fact the "-1" was in the code at all was probably a compiler glitch, and both it's addition and removal were most likely unintentional.
Original story [Wed 14th Dec, 2022 03:05 GMT]: In surprise news, the excellent 3DS title Mario Kart 7 has today been updated for the second time ever. Yes, despite being released in 2011, Nintendo has randomly issued a new patch for the game bumping it up to Version 1.2.
According to the official patch notes, several issues have been addressed to improve the overall experience. This follows a previous update (Version 1.1) in May 2012. Here's the full patch note history for this game, featuring updates a decade apart:
Ver. 1.2 (Released December 13, 2022)
General
Several issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
Ver. 1.1 (Released May 15, 2012)
- An update has been made available to eliminate shortcut exploits in the Wuhu Loop, Maka Wuhu, and Bowser Castle 1 tracks when they are played in the Online Multiplayer Mode.
- The update is required to play the game's Online Multiplayer Modes. However, the tracks in Single-Player and Local Multiplayer Modes will not be affected by this update. Players can continue to play in these modes without installing the update.
Dataminer OatmealDome has suggested this patch may fix certain security exploits. Nintendo issued similar patches for a number of older Switch games in recent times.
In somewhat related news, Nintendo last week updated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the Wave 3 DLC. It adds another two cups and eight more courses to the game. You can learn more about it in our recent Nintendo Life coverage.
Have you downloaded this update yet for Mario Kart 7? Comment below.
[source en-americas-support.nintendo.com]
Comments (45)
Does this mean that the game has been made more... STABLE??!!
Better late than never.
Nintendo making Nintendo decisions.
Ugh, finally! Nintendo really needs to speed up their lotcheck approval process.
my internet sucks, wont be affected
Lmao they literally made an update to a 3DS game in 2022 just to get rid of exploits. Classic Nintendo move right there
..... why? I would like to see specifics if they get datamined
Does this now beat Mario Kart 8’s record for longest supported Nintendo game?
Nintendo's patch team trying to race the March 23rd 3DS eShop deadline:
Could only mean a exploit patch
Mario Kart 7 Booster Course Pass coming in five, four, three...
Did anyone else have Mario Kart 7 being updated on their 2022 bingo card? No? Just me?
Better late than never as they say. Last time I played this game online was in 2017, I haven't gone near it since. Mario Kart 8 however I've been playing it since it launched on both Wii U and Switch.
Lmao random but okay Nintendo.
I can’t take my 3DS online for…reasons.
weird, i remember them patching a maka wuhu exploit back when the game was still new. i wonder if this update is patching the same one lol
Had to get another patch in before the store shut down. Weird.
And I thought the super mario party update arrived late...
That sure came out of nowhere.
Lol, so pointless.
No surprise by this action at all. Send the asteroid ☄️
With them shutting down the servers in three months I kind of just wonder why even bother.
Well jokes and all why do you even complain? They will shut down eshop so for every1 this should be good that their trying to make the game as good as possible. Lizuka eshop will shut down not the online service you can still play games on 3ds online.
@iaLgan It's just strange they took 11 years to fix shortcut exploits. Nintendo is just such a weird and random company, it's like someone there realised the eShop was closing and thought "oh sh*t, those shortcuts have been on our To Do List for a decade and we're almost out of time! I meant to do it in 2011 but forgot!"
See also, only adding "folders" to Switch this year.
Well I suppose insanity often comes with genius. 😉
Guys, read the date on the shortcut exploit patch.
The only way they'd be able to improve the gameplay experience for me is if they removed the cap on how many coins you could collect in a race (the current max is 10 coins per race, or 40 coins per cup), and the ability to turn items off (like in Super Smash Bros.).
I spent a LONG time grinding for coins to unlock new parts, and it largely ruined the whole Mario Kart experience for me, so much so that I never even touched Mario Kart 8, either for the Wii U or the Switch
Had they not had that cap, plus the ability to turn items off, it would have taken me a lot less time, and I'd probably still like the series after that.
Since my NSO sub ran out recently I've been playing a lot of MK7 online again (with it still being free), so it's great to see Nintendo continuing to supporting it.
I think the thing that concerns me the most about this is that MK7 is over a decade old.
Where does the time go.
Bit random! But I'm overly sentimental and just pleasantly surprised to see Mario Kart 7 on a news feed for the first time in years 🥲
For nostalgia purposes. Better late than never. Thanks Nintendo!
@FatWormBlowsASparky If you can't for a certain, Nintendo wouldn't approve... reason, it's safe nowadays. Might want to update some files first though, because while things are good now, with your mystery reasons, I don't want to turn a 3DS into a paperweight.
@Clyde_Radcliffe The shortcut exploits got patched about a decade ago, they were just included in the NL patch notes now (with a date) for comparison, and to point out how long it had been. I actively played the game at the time, and when it was patched, saw players still shoot themselves off course only to find they didn't get carried by Lakitu through most of the next lap.
I put in so many hours on this game.
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
A... Decade? It has been a decade since my a*s was a dysphoric freshman bean in High School.
C'mon Nintendo give me a Mario Kart 7 Deluxe for 3DS.
Good! I hope this reminds people that the game is still online and still fun as hell!
The online services shut down in 3 months. The only people who are going to update are the ones that see this article. Most people will never know about this 1.2 update.
As the only Mario Kart game with depth (like, actual, not substance!), I'm happy to see this and will celebrate by playing it this weekend!
I just bought this again for my 3DS. Was very surprised to see people still playing online. I am going to have a blast for the next few months before it's shut down.
Finally, after all those years its finally stable. 🤣
@stuntz0rZ There has been no announcement or published date for the shutdown of the 3DS online play. The only thing changing as of right now is the complete removal of eShop Purchases, but even then, you can redownload any game you have purchased after that.
The way I’m reading this update, 1.2 exists solely to prevent people with 1.1 from playing against v1.2 players…?
Pretty sure at least 10% of things Nintendo does is just to foist mystery on people and make them speculate.
@stuntz0rZ Only the eShop is shutting down, not the online services.
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