SuperTuxKart’s networking beta arrived as version 0.10-beta1 on January 11, 2019. It introduced online racing for testing, including LAN and internet matches, player-hosted and community servers, ranked play, and the ability to watch a race before joining the next one. The project later identified version 1.0, released in April 2019, as the release that officially brought online multiplayer to the game.
What did SuperTuxKart’s networking beta add?
The January 2019 beta announcement presented 0.10-beta1 as a major step beyond stable version 0.9.3: players could race friends or people around the world over a local network (LAN) or the internet (WAN). The announcement’s author, Hiker, wrote, “We are now confident that our code is stable enough for a beta release”.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mattel Games UNO Mario Kart Card Game, Ages 7+, Players 2-10 | $7.98 | Buy on Amazon |
- Host a race: Start a server through the game on your own computer, or run a standalone server.
- Join a server: Connect to servers run by other players or organizations.
- Use ranked servers: The beta announcement described servers that contributed to a global player ranking.
- Watch before racing: Join an ongoing race as a spectator and enter play in the following race.
These were features described in the beta announcement; it does not establish that any particular server remains available today.
How was online play different from local multiplayer?
SuperTuxKart supports both online racing and local play. Online sessions connect players over a LAN or the internet, with one player or a separate machine hosting a server. For local multiplayer, the project’s game listing says up to eight friends can play together on one PC. That local-play figure does not mean eight players can join an online match from one computer.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- It's the classic UNO card game everyone knows, now set in the crazy go-kart racing world of Mario Kart
- Each card is decorated with iconic images from Mario Kart so it makes a great toy, especially for fans of the game
- Just like in classic UNO, players match cards by color or number in a race to empty their hands. When they're down to one card, they must yell "UNO"
- Includes an exclusive wild card only found in this collector's pack
- UNO Mario Kart makes a great toy for both kids and adults 7 years and older
The project’s official 1.0 release announcement later described online normal races, time trials, soccer, battle, and Capture the Flag. It also said players could create a server through the game interface or use community-provided servers.
What connection quality did the beta recommend?
The 2019 beta post recommended choosing a server with ping below 150 ms for a smooth experience. It warned that higher latency could make karts stutter or appear to teleport; packet loss, jitter, or an unstable connection could cause similar problems. This was the project’s guidance for the beta at that time, not a guarantee of performance on every current network or server.
When did SuperTuxKart officially add online multiplayer?
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2019 | The project announced 0.10-beta1 for testing online racing. |
| April 2019 | The project released version 1.0, which its history identifies as officially bringing online multiplayer. |
| October 31, 2024 | The official news page recorded the first beta release for STK 1.5. |
| September 2026 | The official news page listed ongoing SuperTuxKart Evolution development updates. |
The 2019 networking beta is a historical milestone, not the project’s current beta status. STK 1.5 had its own beta announcement in 2024, and the project’s news page shows Evolution development continuing in 2026.
How much work did online multiplayer take?
In its 2019 version 1.0 announcement, the project reported that online multiplayer involved more than 20,000 lines of network-related code and 18 months of work. The same post said that more than 2,500 commits and 300 resolved issues separated 1.0 from 0.9.3. These are development figures reported by the project, not independent measurements of performance or network quality.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What is SuperTuxKart today?
The project describes SuperTuxKart as a multiplatform, 3D, open-source arcade kart racer. Its game listing says players can race online and play with up to eight friends on one PC; standard 1.5 packages are listed as free of charge. “Mario Kart clone” is a familiar shorthand, but the project’s own description is arcade kart racer. Current server availability and release information can change, so check the project’s official pages for the latest details.
Sources: January 2019 beta announcement; project history; version 1.0 announcement; official news; game listing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
