Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is like the Wii U original in almost every way, except that it has a whole lot more. More racers and more tracks thanks to the included DLC, and some more gameplay mechanics, like the new feather weapon. Along with these changes and additions came some behind the scenes stuff, like auto-steer, otherwise known as Smart Steering, which keeps players locked to the tracks, unable to fall off the sides. Sure, this is great for younger players, or on the insane 200cc, but veterans will want this feature off. Here’s a quick guide on how to turn auto-steer on and off in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
To turn auto-steer either on or off in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe you need to be in the kart selection menu. No matter what mode you’re playing, get here and hit either Plus or Minus to bring up the stat page. This is where you can see detailed info about your kart, including its speed, handling, and whether you have auto-steer turned on. To toggle it either on or off just hit the L button. You’ll see the auto-steer icon change to either solid, or have an X over it. The latter means it’s off.
If you’ve already started a race then you can turn Smart Steering off by hitting Plus to open the menu. Now just hit L to toggle the feature on and off as you need to.
If you can’t tell whether auto-steer is on or off just look at your kart. If it has a big antenna sticking out of the back then it is on. What this means is that your kart will be unable to fall off the sides. You can still jump, but no matter what you’ll be guided back onto the track. This can help inexperienced players, as they won’t fall to their doom so much.
However, for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe pros it can actually be a detriment. Most high skill strategies involve going off the track for some reason, such as when using the glider. Being forced back on when you’re not expecting it can be a huge problem. So, be sure to check whether it’s on or not and use this guide to toggle it to what you want.
