Mario Kart 8 Will Outsell Mario Kart Wii, According to Updated Switch Software Sales

by
Cole Travis
in General | Aug, 6th 2021

Mario Kart is a series that anyone who has played a Nintendo console knows about, with the game originally appearing on the Super Nintendo with Super Mario Kart. Every console after the SNES has had some form of Mario Kart as a title, from the DS with Mario Kart DS to the GameCube with Mario Kart: Double Dash to the Wii with Mario Kart Wii. 

However, with the launch of the Switch, it seems that the console got a hand me down in the form of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, being a port of the WiiU version of Mario Kart 8, including new characters, a full battle mode, and all the DLC from the original version. But this version of Mario Kart didn’t stop fans from buying the game in droves, as according to the sales numbers from Nintendo, the game is still the best-selling title on the Switch, and it’s about to be the best selling Mario Kart of all time. 

Posted on the official website, a list of the most popular games on every console from the DS to the Switch, Mario Kart 8 is listed at selling 37.08 million copies. This is important to know, as Mario Kart Wii has sold 37.38 million copies as well. With only 300,000 copies of Mario Kart 8 left to sell, it’s no surprise that the game will surpass Mario Kart Wii by the end of the year at the earliest. But what does this mean for players who are expecting another Mario Kart sometime within the future? 

The most likely answer is that there won’t be another entry in the titular racing series anytime soon. Mario Kart 8 is just selling too well for Nintendo to focus on making another sequel to Mario Kart 8, as players are still playing the game, even though it’s a port of the original Wii U version. A hypothetical Mario Kart 9 will most likely not come out until sometime after the end of the Switch’s life cycle. 

However, Nintendo has a second possibility if they want to keep support for the Kart Racer while still making new content, which comes in more DLC for the game. Originally, Mario Kart 8 didn’t come with the four extra cups in the game. However, during the Wii U version, the game’s last four cups were added as DLC, adding 16 tracks, multiple characters, and new parts for the cars in the game. Bringing another wave of DLC for the game would be enough to tie players over since Mario Kart 9 will most likely be saved for the Switch’s successor. With Mario Kart 8 only selling around five million copies on the Wii U, there’s a possibility that the majority of players who bought Mario Kart 8 would be willing to make an extra purchase if it means more tracks and characters for Mario Kart.

Regardless, the fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be the most popular Mario Kart of all time is astonishing since it’s a port of a Wii U title and not a brand new Mario Kart. However, it makes sense as to why it’s selling so well. The critical failure of the Wii U is to blame for the title’s lackluster install base. However, with the astounding success of the hybrid console, Nintendo gave the game a second chance, and with the broad appeal of Mario Kart, any causal player of the Switch will purchase the game. 

Source: https://www.esportstalk.com/news/mario-kart-8-will-outsell-mario-kart-wii-according-to-updated-switch-software-sales/