Update: The patch notes have been published. You can see them below.
Since the game was released after Nintendo’s September 2023 Direct, F-Zero 99 has been receiving a slow but gradual update with additional content and various bug fixes. Most of the updates were previously announced by Nintendo, but the game now has a lot of content that it didn’t have when it originally launched.
Nintendo announced another update yesterday, and as promised, the update is live now. This update brings the game to version 1.3.0. As for what the update does, there’s a lot. There’s a new Grand Prix that includes Mirror tracks, a steering assist function and more. You can see Nintendo of America’s tweets about it below.
New additions
- Added mirror tracks. Normal tracks are flipped horizontally, and tracks where the tricks have been rearranged will appear.
- Mirror tracks will appear in F-ZERO 99, Pro Tracks, Team Battle, Mini Prix and Mirror Grand Prix races.
- The five Mirror Knight League songs will be added first, followed by the Mirror Queen and Mirror King League songs.
- Added Steer Assist feature. This function avoids barriers and bumps while driving and prevents falling off the track while jumping.
- You can turn the steering assist function ON or OFF in the options under the main menu or on the lobby screen in each mode.
- You cannot use Steer Assist in classic mode.
- The exercise mode has been expanded. In addition to the previous 15 courses, Classic courses and Mirror courses are now unlocked for practice.
- To save data reproduced from ver. 1.2.1 or older, classic tracks you’ve already raced on will be unlocked.
- Classic Mini Prix added to special events. It is a series of three races with classic rules and tracks.
- SILENCE, WHITE LAND II and FIRE FIELD will appear.
- Added featured challenges. You can highlight time-limited challenges that can only be attempted for a certain period of time, challenges related to ongoing events, and challenges that are close to completion.
- Press the L key on the main menu to go to the Featured Challenges screen.
- Added Boost colors and Spin Effects for machine customization, as well as backgrounds, badges and borders for Pilot card customization. Once the specified conditions are met, they can be used for customization.
- You can check the listed conditions and make adjustments by selecting Workshop from the main menu, then selecting Machines or Pilot cards.
Other adjustments and changes
- Pilot card badges can now be placed multiple times with the same card.
- At least one machine card is now included among the mystery ranks in the lucky ranks.
- You can get to the Lucky Ranks screen by pressing the L stick on the main menu.
- Private lobby password can now be toggled on and off.
- Lobby wait time specifications have been changed.
- Before: If no other player joins the lobby for the first 15 seconds, the match will be canceled and the race will begin.
- If no other player joins 10 seconds after the last player joins the lobby, the match will end and the race will begin.
- Private lobbies are not subject to this specification change.
- Machine balance adjustments have been made.
| Machine | Adjustments |
|---|---|
| All machines | The amount of damage when machines collide with each other or with barriers has been reduced. Boost can no longer be used continuously without power. |
| BLUE FALCON | Slightly increased maximum speed when using Boost. The top speed achieved by touching the instrument panel has been slightly increased. |
| THE GOLDEN FOX | Slightly reduced top speed when power is reduced. Slightly increased amount of power required for Boost. |
| WILD GOOSE | Reduced cooldown after Spin Attacks. The top speed achieved by touching the instrument panel has been slightly increased. |
| FIRE RYE | Slightly increased amount of power required for Boost. |
- Added penalty for players who leave the race on purpose.
- This applies to players rated S2 or higher, and if penalized, they lose the same number of skill points as they would have if they lost to all of their opponents.
- If you don’t drive for a certain amount of time during a race, quit the pause menu, or rank up for driving in the wrong direction, etc., you will be penalized.
- Repeated communication interruptions will also result in a penalty.
- Slightly reduced the number of skill points that a player with skill S20 or higher loses when losing to three or four opponents.
- With the addition of the MUTE CITY I and BIG BLUE Mirror courses in this update, there will now be two secret courses, one based on DEATH WIND I and the other cool on MUTE CITY I. As a result, the Mini Prix which consisted of three races on secret paths was eliminated.
- The two secret courses will continue to appear in Mini Prix along with other courses in the future.
- In F-ZERO 99 and Classic, the specification to match players who have just started the game or who are not yet used to playing the game with other players has been eliminated.
Other repairs
- Fixed issues for a more enjoyable gaming experience.
