The Nintendo Switch continues to be a source of success for the consolemaker, as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe became the fastest-selling game in franchise history.
Fans in the US purchased more than 459,000 copies of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on its first day of availability (April 28), smashing the previous record set by Mario Kart Wii nearly a decade ago. These sales figures include both retail copies and Nintendo eShop downloads, and according to Nintendo, “nearly one in two Nintendo Switch owners in the US purchased a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the first day it was available.”
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an updated and expanded re-release of 2014’s Mario Kart 8, and Nintendo considers it the “definitive” version of the game. These additions include both downloadable expansions that were originally available to download for the Wii U, as well as Switch-exclusive content including new characters, new weapons, the ability to carry two items at the same time, and a brand new Battle Mode.
Nintendo has announced plans to launch nearly a dozen Switch-exclusive games in 2017, so it seems likely they’ll be setting even more sales records before the year is out.
