Nintendo has updated Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World with a fresh patch that pulls a notable U-turn on a recent, controversial change.Last month, Nintendo upset Mario Kart fans by nerfing the game's Random course selection option when playing in VS mode — something many players were deliberately using to try and opt out of open-world driving whenever possible. Unlike the game's suggested next race options, Random allowed players to land on a track further afield — which then would be played as a distinct three-lap race, in traditional Mario Kart style — rather than play a so-called 'intermission track,' where a bulk of the next race is taken up by simply driving to the course through the game's open world. Now, Nintendo has hit the brakes, reversed course and pulled a Uey on this change, in a surprising climbdown.In the latest patch notes for Mario Kart World update 1.2.0, which is available to download now, Nintendo said it has "increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in 'VS Race' and wireless races."This should please the large number of fans who complained loudly about Nintendo's previous change, and who said it was a sign Nintendo was forcing players to drive through lengthy stretches of the game's less interesting open world, rather than via its tighter, more curated actual courses.Today's update is a chunky one, with a slew of tweaks and bug fixes for Nintendo's open-world racer. A handful of new features include the ability to view replays after downloading Time Trial ghost data, and to choose who to spectate in Knockout Tour and Balloon Battle. Meanwhile, a handful of balance adjustments by Nintendo have made computer-controlled players "weaker in everything other than Battle," and also nerfed the homing accuracy of the Boomerang item. There's a new wheel spinning animation if you try and accelerate too early at the start of races, too.Full patch notes for Mario Kart World version 1.2.0 lie below.Mario Kart World Update 1.2.0 patch notes:GeneralIn the “VS Race” of “Single Player”, added “No COM” to the COM rules.In the “VS Race” of “Single Player” and “Multiplayer”, added “Mushrooms only” to the item rules.You can now choose “View Replay” after downloading ghost data in “Time Trials”.You can now choose whom to watch when spectating in “Knockout Tour” and “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play”, “Wireless Play”, and “LAN Play”.You can now see the waiting time until the next race or battle starts in “Online Play”, “Wireless Play”, and “LAN Play”.When using CameraPlay in “Multiplayer” and “Online Play”, the game will now remember the camera cursor position and size until the player closes the game.If you change the number of people playing, the cursor position and size will return to their original settings.On the “Free Roam” map, when you gather all of the P Switches, ? Panels, and Peach Medallions, the colors of the various numbers will now change.Made COM weaker in everything other than “Battle”.Made homing of Boomerang weaker.Decreased the probability of getting a Triple Dash Mushroom in the low position, whenever the item rules in a race are anything other than “Frantic”.Changed it so order of getting ? Block is higher than in the past, whenever the item rules in a race are anything other than “Frantic”.Made it so there is a wheel spinning animation if the player presses the A button (acceleration) too early when starting a race while driving.Player will not lose speed even when spinning wheels.Increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in “VS Race” and wireless races.Fixed IssuesFixed an issue where the rate fluctuations were sometimes displayed incorrectly in wireless races.Fixed an issue where the vehicle would stay floating in air when jumping off a half pipe.Fixed an issue where, when a player crashes while gliding and uses Bullet Bill, they go out of the course.Fixed an issue where, if a player quits a Rewind in the location where they were wall riding, the driver’s posture would not return to what it was before.Fixed an issue where the item that was displayed in the item slot would turn into something else when using it.Fixed an issue where in “Online Play”, the player would not dash even when getting on a Dash Panel.Fixed an issue where the points in a team race in “Wireless Play” would display incorrectly.Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable on the menu screen after the player was retired in “Balloon Battle” in “Wireless Play”.Fixed an issue where a Peach Medallion would sometimes disappear when doing Rewind in “Free Roam”.Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable when the player pointed the cursor at their own character or course and pressed A on the “Free Roam” map.Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable when the player quit a mission in “Free Roam” right before entering a pipe.Fixed an issue where the player would slip through some drift ice around “Sky-High Sundae”.Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the outside of a handrail on the left and right sides right after the start of “Airship Fortress”.Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the fence and not be able to move forward in “Bowser's Castle”.Fixed an issue where, when the player used a Bullet Bill in “Bowser's Castle”, they would not be able to glide and fell into the abyss.Fixed an issue where the player would go out of the course when using a Mega Mushroom on the last turn of “Whistlestop Summit”.Fixed an issue where the player could not get out of the location where they fell from a railroad when “Smart Steering” is on in “Whistlestop Summit”.Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ground at a ramp near the goal at “Choco Mountain”.Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on a block when using a Bullet Bill on the road that enters “Choco Mountain”.Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on a plank of wood laid on the road when throwing a green shell on the road between “DK Spaceport” and “Whistlestop Summit”.Fixed an issue where the last place would be sometimes incorrect in the wireless races of “Dino Dino Jungle”.Fixed an issue where the player would get caught on the back of a leaf when using a Bullet Bill in “Acorn Heights”.Fixed an issue where the player would not be able to slip through a vase that is placed on the road in “Shy Guy Bazaar”, when using a Boo.Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ceiling in “Dry Bones Burnout”.Fixed an issue where the player would sometimes hit a fence when throwing a red shell on the first turn in “Moo Moo Meadows”.Fixed an issue where one part of the effects that take place for the bridge transforming when heading toward “Rainbow Road” did not display.Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ground on the road between ”Starview Peak” and “Sky-High Sundae”.Fixed an issue where some of the item boxes would not have appeared in “Wario Shipyard”.Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the bottom of a rock near the goal of ”Wario Shipyard”.Fixed an issue where the player would go out of the course when using a Mega Mushroom on a turn inside “Wario Stadium”.Fixed an issue where the player gets caught on a tree in the middle of a shortcut if they have “Smart Steering” on when heading from “Starview Peak” to “Dandelion Depths” in “Ice Rally” of “Knockout Tour”.Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social