‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ Enjoys A Victory Lap With A Record-Breaking Launch

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Nintendo Switch’s enhanced re-release of the Wii U kart racer, came out this past Friday. And it successfully continued the momentum from the Switch’s strong launch.

MARIO KART 8 DELUXE ENJOYS A STRONG START

When accounting for physical and digital copies, Mario’s latest competition sold 459,000 copies since its launch, rendering it the fastest-selling installment in the series. Mario Kart Wii previously held the record at 433,900 units when it graced its console back in 2008.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, in relation to the Switch’s hardware sales, is currently holding an attach rate of 45 percent. Furthermore, Nintendo explains how “nearly one in two Nintendo Switch owners in the U.S. purchased a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the first day it was available.” Notably, the Switch has currently sold over 2.7 million consoles across the globe.

Additionally, Nintendo boasts of the positive reception the kart racer has enjoyed thus far: it currently holds a 93 on aggregator website Metacritic. Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the Game Boy Advance’s entry, is tied with Deluxe as the highest-rated Mario Kart. Also, if you’re curious about my opinions, I plan to review the game once I secure a Switch.

Nintendo has again committed to maintaining this momentum. A rendition of the sandbox juggernaut Minecraft will join the Switch’s catalog on May 11, with Capcom bringing Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers on May 26. Notably, Nintendo is helping push both titles; the former will contain Mario-themed content, and the latter is currently be honored through My Nintendo. Plus, Nintendo’s ARMS and Splatoon 2 will respectively arrive on June 16 and July 21.