All Articles: Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo sold 4.8 million Switch consoles in US in 2017… a record-setting start for a console
The Nintendo Switch continued its record-breaking streak today.
Nintendo has announced that 4.8 million Switch consoles were sold in the United States in 2017, making it the fastest-selling console of all time. The previous record holder, the Wii, sold four million consoles in the US during its first ten month on sale in 2006-2007.
“Fans across the country have experienced the joy of playing their favorite games at home or on the go,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “Now that many more people have received Nintendo Switch systems for the holidays, we look forward to bringing them fun new surprises in 2018 and beyond.”
As part of the announcement, the consolemaker also revealed a few impressive sales figures for a handful of first-party games. Super Mario Odyssey was the Switch’s best-selling game during its first calendar year, and more than 60% of Switch owners in the US purchased the game (which translates to about 2.9 million copies). It was followed closely by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild, which is owned by 55% of Switch owners (totaling 2.6 million copies). In third place, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was purchased by 50% of Switch owners (for sales of 2.4 million copies) and Splatoon 2 inked an ownership agreement with 20% of Switch owners (totaling almost a million copies in sales).
Finally, Nintendo confirmed that Switch owners can look forward to new games from EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Capcom, Sega, Take Two, and Bethesda in 2018. This is interesting as EA, Activision, and Take Two have yet to announce any further games for the Switch. So I guess we can look forward to announcements from all three companies in the very near future.
Call of Duty: WWII leads a huge month for game sales as best-selling game of Nov. 2017
Fans have been asking to send the Call of Duty franchise back to the European Theater for years, and now that Activision has finally delivered, those same fans have gleefully opened their wallets. According to The NPD Group, Call of Duty: WWII was the best-selling game in November, as well as the best-selling game in all of 2017 (so far).
Call of Duty: WWII’s launch helped push November 2017’s total game, hardware, and accessory sales to $2.7 billion, an increase of 30% over last year. Other big performers that fuled the last four weeks of sales included Star Wars: Battlefront II (#2), Assassin’s Creed Origins (#3), Super Mario Odyssey (#6), and a big debut for Need For Speed: Payback (#8).
The complete Top 20 from last month can be found after the break. (more…)
Super Mario Cereal is coming… and it includes an Amiibo powerup for Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo is teaming up with Kellogg’s to create Super Mario Cereal, a new “mixed berry cereal” that also includes Mario-themed marshmallows. The “limited edition” cereal will start appearing in stores sometime around December 11.
Super Mario Odyssey fans will be particularly interested in this cereal, as each box will include an Amiibo Card that unlocks bonus Coins and Hearts in the game.
“This powered-up partnership with Kellogg’s is another exciting way for us to expand the Nintendo brand in unique and creative ways,” said Tom Prata, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “We are always looking for new opportunities to bring smiles to people of all ages, and this is a fun way to kick off the day.”
“We are thrilled to pack so much fun into one box of cereal,” said Brad Schwan, the Senior Director of Morning Foods Marketing. “The package adds value and excitement for fans, with marshmallow shapes in the cereal inspired by Super Mario power-ups to tie the theme together.”
If you’re over 30, there’s a good chance you remember the first time Nintendo has got into the cereal business. In 1986, the consolemaker partnered with Ralston to produce the Nintendo Cereal System, which was actually two cereals in one box. After opening the top, fans found Mario-themed fruit pieces in one bag, and Zelda-themed berry pieces in another. I quite enjoyed it as a kid, and unopened boxes even appear on eBay from time to time.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Super Mario Odyssey are October 2017’s best-selling games
A northeastern cold snap proves that Fall is all… as does the massive number of new releases that cracked The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games from October 2017. WB Games’s Middle-Earth: Shadow of War lead the way at #1, but it was closely followed by Assassin’s Creed Origins at #2, Super Mario Odyssey at #3, and South Park: The Fractured But Whole at #4.
Nintendo actually had a huge month, placing four titles in the Top 20 (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (#15), Mario Kart 8 (#16), and Fire Emblem Warriors (#17) were the others), as well as owning the top two hardware platforms. However, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that overall industry sales still dropped 11% versus October 2016 to $825 million:
With interest in the Switch and the Super NES Classic still sky-high, Nintendo hardware managed to account for two-thirds of the hardware sales generated. That being said, NPD noted that Sony’s PlayStation 4 is still the best-selling hardware platform year-to-date. Furthermore, in the accessories category, the black DualShock 4 wireless controller was both the best-selling accessory of October, and the best-selling accessory year-to-date.
The complete Top 20 from October 2017 can be found after the break. (more…)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, PUBG, Persona, Horizon: Zero Dawn nominated for “Game of The Year” at 2017 Game Awards
The unprecedented success of the Nintendo Switch has been THE story of 2017, and not surprisingly, Nintendo’s latest console is well represented among the nominations for the 2017 Game Awards.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey received six nominations apiece, and both will be competing for “Game of the Year.” PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Atlus’s Persona 5, and Guerrilla’s Horizon: Zero Dawn (which also received six total nominations) were also nominated for the prestigious award.
A grand total of 102 games and individuals were nominated for at least one award as part of this year’s ceremony, and several games are looking to take home a lot of hardware including Destiny 2 (six nominations), Studio MDHR’s Cuphead (five nominations), and Bethesda’s Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (four nominations).
The Game Awards will be held on December 7 at 9:00 PM (Eastern Time), and fans can watch the show through their favorite video streaming service or at TheGameAwards.com. The full list of nominees can be found after the break. (more…)
Super Mario Odyssey, Moon Hunters, Monopoly, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week
I’ve started to take it for granted that a big batch of new downloadable games will be released for the Switch every week through the Nintendo eShop. This week is no different, but it also comes with the added bonus of Mario’s latest adventure, Super Mario Odyssey, which will be available to download on Friday.
If you’re skipping the plumber’s latest rescue attempt, Switch owners will also be able to download retro-inspired RPG Moon Hunters and Ubisoft’s Monopoly adaptation (on Tuesday).
You can learn more about all of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop after the break. (more…)
New Retail Releases: Super Mario Odyssey, Wolfenstein II, Assassin’s Creed Origins, More
Mario is back this week in his first fully 3D adventure in more than a decade. Super Mario Odyssey will make its Switch debut this Friday, but fans can dance along with its super-catchy theme song, “Jump Up Super Star,” right now.
Also returning to the dance floor this week is BJ Blazkowicz (in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus), Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise (in Assassin’s Creed Origins), and the latest entry in the Just Dance series (Just Dance 2018).
Finally this week, Destiny 2 will make its PC debut.
You can read all about the rest of this week’s new retail releases after the break. (more…)
Nintendo made a musical trailer for Super Mario Odyssey… The Mummy Demastered will be released on October 24
Two games tower above all others on October’s release calendar… Super Mario Odyssey and The Mummy Demastered.
While the appeal of Mario’s next adventure is obvious, WayForward’s adaptation of a Tom Cruise bomb is a bit more surprising. But the developer has jettisoned anything to do with the actor and delivered a retro-inspired “MetroidVania” shooter. And now we know when it’ll be released.
Oh, and Nintendo transformed Super Mario Odyssey into a musical for the game’s latest trailer.
Enjoy both after the break. (more…)