‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ Latest Patch Tweaks Inkling Girl’s Offensive Gestures

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe recently released its latest patch intended to bring changes in the game including the controversial hand gesture of Inkling Girl.

Earlier this week, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe rolled out its latest update, changing Inkling Girl’s hand gesture. Apparently, the said gesture is considered offensive in some countries including France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and parts of Latin America.

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Inkling Girl has an animation wherein she raises a clenched fist while the other arm holds the raised bicep. According to reports, the hand gesture was meant to be a celebratory sign of Inkling Girl.

However, there were some who find it offensive. Some players pointed out that Inkling Girl’s celebratory sign was very similar to the “Italian Salute,” which is known to be a gesture or symbol of fascism.

Nintendo, which is known for family-friendly games, quickly addressed the issue by tweaking the hand gesture. Apparently, the latest patch for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe replaced Inkling Girl’s celebratory sign with a simple fist pump.

In a forum for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, user Neiteio uploaded screenshots of Inkling Girl’s hand gesture before and after the patch. Although the physical changes appeared to be slight, many consider this as a significant move to avoid any conflict.

Check out the difference in the photos below.

Nintendo seems to exert much effort in precisely scanning Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for inevitable issues and glitches. The latest patch for the game not only fixed Inkling Girl’s offensive hand gesture but also added minor changes to improve the gameplay.

During online races, players can now see their opponents’ names in the rear view mirror. This will make it more convenient to keep track of their opponents. Also in online matches, racers can now have a longer invincibility period after a spin-out or crash. This will allow players to recover faster.

In the updated version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, up to two players can now spectate a friend group while waiting to join. This way, players can review their opponents’ techniques and make necessary adjustments before the race.

Additionally, the Worldwide and Regional modes now lessen the Mirror and 200cc matches in the game. Players can also properly create a friend lobby even with 100 or more friends. The Tournament clock now features real-world time as well.

The latest patch for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also shows the starting positions depending on where and when the player has joined. In addition, players can also see clearer facial expressions of Driver Miis.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to break records ever since its release in April for the Nintendo Switch. In fact, the hit racing game reached several milestones not only for the franchise but also for the console as well.

According to reports, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the fastest-selling game in the franchise’s history. The game reportedly sold over 459,000 copies of both digital and physical version in the U.S. on its first day on sale.

The game also brought some impressive milestones for Nintendo shortly after its release. NPD analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the top-selling title, which adds more interest to the console.

“Video game software dollar sales grew six percent versus a year ago to $304 million, driven by the launches of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Persona 5, along with a strong second month for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the month’s top-selling title. As a property, Mario Kart is the all-time best-selling racing franchise in the U.S.”

Make sure to check back for more news and updates on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

[Featured Image by Mario Kart 8]