Nintendo just dropped a free update for Mario Tennis Fever on Switch 2, and it is a bigger patch than most players were probably expecting. Version 1.1.0 pulls heavily from the Super Mario Galaxy universe, adding a brand-new court, a new Fever Racket, a new special match mode, and balance tweaks touching 16 characters and 8 rackets.
What the Galaxy Court actually plays like
The new Galaxy Court is built on a distant planet, which means the physics are a little different from anything else in the game. Ball speed is not particularly fast here, but the bounce height is notably higher than on standard courts. The key here is that the court shape actually changes depending on the mode you are playing. Free Play and Ranked Match use one layout, while the Galaxy Court Match special mode puts you on a fully spherical court.
That spherical version is where things get wild. As the match progresses, one of three types of Prankster Comets will appear and shake up the strategy mid-match. Nintendo has not listed exactly what each Prankster Comet does, so expect some surprises the first time you play it.
Galaxy Court has also been added as a Ranked Match court, so you will be seeing it in competitive play right away.
The Black Hole Racket is exactly what it sounds like
The new Black Hole Racket is the headlining addition for Fever Racket players. When its Fever Shot hits the ground, it spawns a black hole that grows over time and pulls nearby players toward it. Get too close and your HP Gauge takes damage. If your HP hits 0 from the black hole, you get sucked in entirely.
One important detail: the black hole does not pull in incoming balls, so opponents can still play normally around it. It is a zoning tool, not a match-ender on its own. The ? Block Racket also gets a small tie-in here since Black Hole Shots have been added as a possible effect from its Fever Shots.
Character balance changes across the roster
Sixteen characters received adjustments in Version 1.1.0. The changes range from bug fixes to meaningful stat shifts, so here is the full breakdown:
Rosalina and Donkey Kong both got a delayed run start, which reads as a deliberate nerf to their reactivity. Rosalina's drop shot change is interesting though, potentially opening up new playstyles. If you want to figure out where your main lands after these adjustments, the best Mario Tennis Fever characters tier list has you covered.
Fever Racket tuning and quality-of-life additions
Eight rackets were adjusted alongside the character changes. The Amp Racket got a significant rework: its effect used to last 20 rallies, now it disappears after 12 seconds regardless of rally count. The Freezing Racket went the other direction, removing the 10-rally condition entirely so it only expires on the 15-second timer.
The Metal Racket now slows your movement while active, matching your low-HP movement speed. Both the Metal Racket and the Star Racket can now remove Mini Mushrooms placed by the Mini Mushroom Racket, which adds a new layer of counter-play between racket types.
On the quality-of-life side, you can now select Random on the racket selection screen, and choosing Continue after a match will automatically give you a different racket each time. Star Shot execution also got easier with adjusted star point detection.
GameShare, new cosmetics, and court selection
Version 1.1.0 adds GameShare support through GameChat, letting friends who do not own Mario Tennis Fever join matches via swing controls or button controls. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to access GameChat.
Luma gets 5 new color variants as playable characters, and Mario unlocks a classic outfit after collecting 5 medals. Three Academy Court variants (Grass, Hard, and Clay) are now available in the court selection screen alongside Galaxy Court.
The update is live now on Switch 2 at no cost. If you are newer to the game and want to get up to speed before jumping into Ranked Match on the new court, the Mario Tennis Fever strategy guides cover everything from shot mechanics to character matchups.
