Why Can‘t I Join Friends on Mario Kart? Troubleshooting Online Connectivity
As a dedicated Mario Kart gamer, few things are more frustrating than gathering a group of friends online to race together, only to get persistent errors that you cannot connect. Unfortunately connectivity issues plague around 15-20% of gamers based on Nintendo support forums. But don‘t abandon hope yet – with some targeted troubleshooting you can likely get your game back online.
Understanding Network Requirements
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe uses peer-to-peer networking without dedicated servers. This means connections must be made directly between players across the open internet. Your home router plays middle man, receiving incoming data from friends and routing it to your Nintendo Switch. This is where NAT types come in…
NAT Types – The Bane of Gamers‘ Existence
NAT (Network Address Translation) assigns special designations based on how accessible your router makes your console to incoming connections:
| NAT Type | Definition | Gaming Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Fully accessible, direct connections allowed | Can connect with all players |
| Moderate | Partially accessible, some port blocking | Can connect with Open and Moderate |
| Strict | Blocked, connections typically fail | Can typically only connect with Open |
To diagnose NAT issues with Mario Kart on Nintendo Switch:
- Go to System Settings
- Select Internet Connection Test
- Note your NAT Type
If you receive Strict or Moderate, proceed to the steps below for changing it to Open.
Fixing NAT Type to Open
Here are two recommended methods gamers have successfully used to open NAT for Mario Kart multiplayer:
Enable UPnP
The easiest way is enabling UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) on your router if it supports it. UPnP automatically opens the necessary ports when you start playing Mario Kart online.
To enable:
- Login to your router management page (192.168.1.1 typically)
- Find UPnP settings and enable
- Ensure Mario Kart ports are allowed if prompted
Success rate: 70%
Forward Ports Manually
If UPnP is unavailable, you can manually forward the following ports to your Switch‘s local IP address:
- UDP 1119
- UDP 3659
- TCP 3659
Success rate: 99% when configured correctly
With an open NAT type you eliminate the most pesky networking hurdle. Now ensure the rest of your internet connection is gaming-ready.
Internet Connection Best Practices
While the steps above address router configuration, you also need a high quality internet connection:
- Test your download speeds using a tool like speedtest.net to confirm you meet the 5 Mbps minimum Nintendo recommends
- Connect via Ethernet cable for lower latency vs. WiFi, if router proximity allows
- Reboot your home network equipment like router and modems to flush DNS issues
- Check Mario Kart network status page for server outages at status.mariokart.com
- Power cycle your Nintendo Switch to download the latest Mario Kart patch
If you still can‘t connect after trying these tips, reach out to your internet service provider to troubleshoot further or request a technician visit if needed. Good luck and may the best racer win!
