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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Sales #1 In UK, Over 450,000 In United States

by Donald Theriault - May 1, 2017, 9:16 am EDT
Total comments: 30 Source: Nintendo

People are really thirsty for racing as kids/squids.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the latest Switch title to break sales records.

According to UK industry tracking, the Switch re-release was the best selling game in the country last week. Although no sales figures were available, it was the first top spot for Nintendo in general in six years (2011's Pokémon White) and the first Mario title to top the chart since 2008 (Mario Kart Wii).

The sales mania is also running wild in the United States, as according to Nintendo nearly half of all Switch owners bought the game on its release day last Friday. The over 450,000 sales (physical + digital) on day one break another record held by Mario Kart Wii, which ended up as the second best selling game on the Wii.

Talkback

ShyGuyMay 01, 2017

Sales mania is the new Sales Panic?

wcmullinsMay 01, 2017

I feel like everyone has been complaining how Nintendo didn't do enough for us WiiU owners on MK8. This just shows not only we will double dip, we will pay full price >_>


SHAME *rings bell* SHAME *rings bell*


You know who you are.

LemonadeMay 01, 2017

Im very happy to hear it sold well

KITT 10KMay 02, 2017

I figured it would still do well but I didn't think it would sell so well being ported over from the Wii U but I am happy it is and I would love it if it continues to kick ass in the sales market.

StogiMay 02, 2017

Not a hater but...something something something failure?

KhushrenadaMay 02, 2017

Wow. Did not expect it to sell so well and so fast. Maybe Switch owners really want something else to play right now? I wonder if this will cause Nintendo to bring over more ports to the system now. I really didn't think a port of Smash Bros. would happen since it could cut into ARMS hype and potential sales but maybe the success of MK8D so far will mean we do see a port of Smash 4 after all.

If I recall correctly, Mariokart 8 for Wii U was also insanely successful.  Couple the quality of the game with such a sparse selection on retail shelves, and I'm not surprised in the least.


I guess i'm part of the problem if you aren't for Wii U ports of games, but I only paid $25 for it after offloading my Wii U copy.  Won't lie, I think the gameplay is so good on this version of Mariokart that I find myself hoping they just release more DLC tracks throughout the Switch lifespan, rather than release a new sequel (Mariokart 9). 

wcmullinsMay 02, 2017

If I knew for sure they were planning to support the game for the entire life cycle, I would be on board to buy the game again. It does concern me that because the game is so popular, it will make them more likely to not do much to Smash 4. How great would it have been if you weren't a loyal nintendo fan and just skipped the WiiU? I just feel their most loyal fans are the ones being punished.


I'm just being an asshole. If you bought it and enjoyed it, then that's all matters.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, May 02, 2017

Loyal Nintendo fans got to play Mario Kart 8 a full two years before everyone else, among many other Wii U games for varying periods of time before everyone else. If that's "punishment" then I don't mind.

SorenMay 02, 2017

Quote from: Phil

Loyal Nintendo fans got to play Mario Kart 8 a full two years before everyone else, among many other Wii U games for varying periods of time before everyone else. If that's "punishment" then I don't mind.

It's so great to know that the Wii U was really just Nintendo's answer to Steam's Early Access. Only here, you get to buy your favorite games twice!

ThePermMay 03, 2017

how much are those high end steam machines?

How much do those pc master racers blow on their rig before they toss it in a corner the next year never to be used again? Or at the least be used as a server for 2 days?

Ian SaneMay 03, 2017

I think this demonstrates the idea that a game like Mario Kart is not a system seller but it sells big with an existing userbase.  We need a name for a type of game like that.  Both the Gamecube and Wii U had Mario Kart and both systems underperformed.  Mario Kart Wii however is one of the highest selling games ever.  This is literally the same game that couldn't move Wii U's and it's beating day one records set by Mario Kart Wii.  I think that proves it.  Mario Kart doesn't convince people to buy a Nintendo console but if they already own a Nintendo console for another reason (Breath of the Wild in this case) they sure as hell are buying Mario Kart.  I suspect the same for 2D Mario platformers due to the vast sales difference between NSMB on the Wii and Wii U.

Though I find it rather ironic that as a Wii U owner I already have the two biggest hits on the Switch.  There is no incentive for me to even consider a Switch purchase at this point.  This is the videogame equivalent of "if you haven't seen it, it's new to you!"

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Quote from: Ian

I think this demonstrates the idea that a game like Mario Kart is not a system seller but it sells big with an existing userbase.  We need a name for a type of game like that.

Fanbase favorite?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Installed Userbase Mustbuy?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

I've-already-spent-this-much-so-I-might-as-well-buy-this-game-anyways seller?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

System Justification Game?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Videogame Collector's Syndrome?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Fun?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Familiar Franchise Fondness?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Mass Market Merchandise?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Favorable Market Mover?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

A Nintendo Game?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Broad Appeal Buy?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

Khushrenada Recommended Purchase?

KhushrenadaMay 03, 2017

The Madden Effect?

nickmitchMay 03, 2017

Quote from: Khushrenada

System Justification Game?

This is probably the closest to a serious guess, and I kinda like it.  But I think the word is just "complementary".  The games fill out a lineup that helps justify a console purchase. 

Quote from: Khushrenada

Installed Userbase Mustbuy?

Or yeah, a "must-buy".  That's already an existing term.

ThePermMay 03, 2017

Quote from: Ian

I think this demonstrates the idea that a game like Mario Kart is not a system seller but it sells big with an existing userbase.  We need a name for a type of game like that.  Both the Gamecube and Wii U had Mario Kart and both systems underperformed.  Mario Kart Wii however is one of the highest selling games ever.  This is literally the same game that couldn't move Wii U's and it's beating day one records set by Mario Kart Wii.  I think that proves it.  Mario Kart doesn't convince people to buy a Nintendo console but if they already own a Nintendo console for another reason (Breath of the Wild in this case) they sure as hell are buying Mario Kart.  I suspect the same for 2D Mario platformers due to the vast sales difference between NSMB on the Wii and Wii U.

Though I find it rather ironic that as a Wii U owner I already have the two biggest hits on the Switch.  There is no incentive for me to even consider a Switch purchase at this point.  This is the videogame equivalent of "if you haven't seen it, it's new to you!"

System Sticker. A game that doesn't necessarily sell systems but has an amazing attach rate.

Though I have a friend who bought a Wii U right before it was discontinued because he wanted to play Mario Kart, but he's also the friend who kept it in his box and never opened it. Actually, he has an Xbox 360 too and never took it out of the box. Actually, he's not my friend so much as he is a friend of a friend, and a hoarder. Though, I think his taste in games that he buys but never plays is pretty good.

Mop it upMay 03, 2017

Quote from: Ian

I think this demonstrates the idea that a game like Mario Kart is not a system seller but it sells big with an existing userbase.

If you look at the system sales for GCN, Wii, Wii U, DS, and 3DS, they all went up when their respective Mario Kart game released, so there's no doubt that Mario Kart sells systems. I would say what this shows is that a system still needs to be a good / desirable system in order for games to sell it. People like the idea of the Switch, but few cared about the concept of Wii U.

SarailMay 09, 2017

Quote from: Khushrenada

Khushrenada Recommended Purchase?

KRP Certified!™

KhushrenadaMay 09, 2017

Now that's a recommendation you can't trust!

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