Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an enhanced version of the original Wii U game. It released in 2017, just under two months after the launch of the Nintendo Switch, and came bundled with all previously available DLC, gameplay tweaks, news addition to the roster, as well as Battle Mode.
Nintendo had recently posted an update on the sales figures of some of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games, and it comes as no surprise to see Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at the top of this list. It also looks like the game has achieved a new sales milestone which makes it the best-selling game in the entire long-running series.
It is now confirmed that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch has sold a staggering 38.74 million copies as of September 30 of this year, a massive feat for any game not named Grand Theft Auto. As the Switch has sold 92.87 million systems, this information shows that over 40 percent of users have purchased Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the platform. The second closest is Mario Kart Wii, which itself is sitting at an impressive 37.38 million units sold. However, it would be fair to expect that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will continue to sell for the next few years, allowing it to further increase this gap.
The original Wii U version is sitting at 8.46 million, though his number does not come as a surprise given the total number of Wii U systems sold when compared to the Switch. Mario Kart 7 on 3DS has sold 18.95 million while Mario Kart DS is holding on at 23.6 million units.
It is unusual for any game to have such a high attach rate, but Mario Kart continues to be the exception to the rule. Games that sell over 15-20 million copies are generally available for less than half the price after a few years. It is then perhaps even more impressive that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe achieved this without being available at a heavily discounted rate.
Fans that are waiting to purchase a Nintendo Switch along with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe should note that Nintendo has recently reduced the sales forecast for this fiscal year due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. As a result, it may become more difficult to buy a Switch as demand continues to be high throughout the holiday season.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Source: Nintendo
