
The eighth entry in the Mario Kart series has finally surpassed the sales of Mario Kart Wii in the US to be crowned the "best-selling" racing game in this country.
This information comes from NPD Group's Mat Piscatella. According to IGN, this includes the "combined" sales of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the original Mario Kart 8 game on Wii U.
Mat also notes how the latest entry in the Mario Kart series was in the best-sellers chart last month:
"US NPD SW - Mario Kart 8 placed 6th on the March 2021 best-sellers chart. Mario Kart 8 is the best-selling racing genre video game in U.S. history."
Nintendo sales data (as of 31st December 2020) reveals Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has shifted 33.41 million units worldwide and is the top-selling Switch game. The Wii U original, as of 20th September 2020, has sold 8.45 million copies.
These sales combined (41.86 million) obviously surpass Mario Kart Wii lifetime sales, but individually, the Wii game is still technically out in front globally - with 37.38 million units sold.
Have you contributed to Mario Kart's sales? Leave a comment down below.
[source twitter.com, via ign.com]
Comments 74
And yet no significant additions during Switch version! Absolutely love the game but always disappointed by lack of more DLC particularly with how much Smash bros is getting!
Great now nintendo will never make a mario kart 9.
Combined together, this makes MK8 the 10th best selling game ever
The game is so full of content, great difficulty and the stunning art style will never get old. It's easily the best entry, despite the fact I played the Wii version a lot more when it came (in the net). I have no idea how they could top this. Some new gameplay ideas would be required, as long as it's not gimmicky control options.
@Patendo Well, MK8DX is a port of a Wii U game that already got two rounds of DLC, so it is understandable that it didn't get any more DLC.
I actually own it on both Wii U and Switch. It's a game I really wanted to be able to play on the go.
@Patendo Battle Mode!
I contributed to 3 copies. The original for the Wii U and 2 copies for Switch. While I love Mario Kart 8 and think it's one of the best games in the series, my all time favorite Mario Kart game is still Double Dash. To this day my friends/family and I have the most fun playing Mario Kart Double Dash hands down. I hope Nintendo one day goes back to the two racers per Kart. Characters with unique special abilities was such a good idea.
I've bought 3 copies on Switch, 1 on my og Switch and after I sold it and bought a Lite for myself and the wife I got us 2 more copies.
I just wish there was more interaction online, it feels like you are just racing NPC's when you can't chat while you race or gloat after spamming 3 red shells
I understand that Nintendo is trying to "protect the kids" from us potty mouths, but surely having an option to allow or block chat in the parental settings would stop that issue.
I would be up for more dlc, myself. More characters, tracks, modes and battle arenas (like Block Fort). I dare say if the rumours of a new Switch are true, when Nintendo revisit their back catalogue to add code to upscale to 4K via DLSS, they may start adding new content along side (maybe even re-release complete versions). That would be lush.
see, that why Nintendo will never release on Switch Mario Kart 9, why release Mario Kart 9 on Switch when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling well, Nintendo is not stupid to release another mainline Mario Kart game(Mario Kart 9 and canabilize the sales of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), Mario Kart 9 only on Switch sucessor.
@Mr-Fuggles777 You gloat by making your Mii say sick burns like "Hooray!" or "That was fun!" 😉 The lobby is where all the drama and smack-talk goes down.
I bought it on Wii U on day of release, and happily bought the DLC for that version. I bought it again on SwitcheShop on one of those 33% off deals. Yesterday, four kids in my house were playing it and Smash using two pro controllers and a pair of Joy-Con and it was pure joy / madness just watching them lol.
@DTfeartheBEARD I loved Double Dash. If supported 16 player couch play (with 8 full size screens if you wanted to) That's nuts!
Here's a video of people playing with that setup: https://youtu.be/ActHKU2dtsY
@ObeseChihuahua2 i double dipped and had it on both! It is interesting that such a popular game hasn't recieved any significant updates on switch in a similiar vein to smash bros..... perhaps a new kart is in the works
@Snatcher perhaps the lack of DLC in 6 years is a sign that Mario Kart 9 is head and shoulders deep into development
@Snatcher,
Mario kart is pretty much Nintendo's most consistent selling franchise, so they will be working on the next installment as I am pretty sure it will perform the same sales wise, of course with the current game still selling so well they will be in no rush.
I dont feel the need for a mk9 yet, but would like to see some dlc added to modernise and refresh it.
They're going to have to come up with something pretty special to make mario kart 9 stand out. Otherwise it's just another mario kart.
@Zeldafan79 Nah literally only needs another double-dash mode and their good
@Nintendoforlife
Heh double dash! Is it just me or is that one underrated?
I’ve contributed to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but I’ve also contributed to Mario Kart Wii
@Patendo smash I can understand. Mario Tennis has had tons of updates
@DennisNOR in a form of double dash
Not a fan of 8, very lacking in the chaos that I associate with Mario Kart. In my opinion MKWii was a much more fun online experience.
I'd love a new Mario Kart on the Switch but at this point I don't think that's gonna happen.
At least there was the Crash Team Racing Remake which was quite excellent.
Meanwhile, F-Zero lies dormant, waiting for its 'grand idea' while this rehash of a Wii U game exists.
Nintendo's winning strategy: release a game multiple times on multiple systems and claim large sales numbers. What a joke.
@AZD1222 double dash was/is great. Some new maps, characters, items to unlock, and new game modes for online. Would love to see some creative new modes for the online.. maybe even make it possible for the users to create own maps ? 😊
Hang on. When they say "best-selling racing genre video game", do they mean across all formats? So, that includes, for example, Gran Turismo? That feels pretty massive, if so!
@Snatcher
Don't worry, Mario Kart 9 will be released on the next 3 Nintendo systems.
@Clyde_Radcliffe That's crazy to think some people were able to enjoy 16 player Double Dash races. Unfortunately I've never been able to even to this day. It would be expensive to have 4 gamecubes, 4 copies of MK DD, 4 broadband adapters, 16 Wavebird controllers(because wireless of course) and 15 friends around lol.
Good to know, however, this game is more than 5years old now, and a new entry is really needed. Too bad switch didn't get it or may still of which i highly doubt. Next gen switch it is then from my own opinion.
Should've been CTR.
Hey look ma, I helped! Twice!
Very deserved, it's a marvellous game. And I keep wondering what 9 is going to do to surpass this entry.
@Ooyah Yeah, Gran Turismo used to sell better and its best seller was GT3 on the PS2 at 16 million.
But ever Since Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart has been ahead in sales.
@screechums Considering the Switch version has sold 4x as much as the WiiU original I don't think you can fault them for re-releasing a game people wanted.
Got my Wii u blue shell edition and 2 copies on switch.
@Patendo probably because they’ve been working on a successor for some years now
We’d have a new MK game had Nintendo’s handheld and home console divisions not merged
@Noid Yeah, Jason Rubin really didn't deserve what happened to him. Sony really scammed him. They deserve our boycott.
Well who-da-thunk-it ay? The one which has been stretched over 2 generations of consoles has sold most. Revelatory
@jco83
They sold new copies of Mario Kart Wii for 12 years
@jco83 At the current rate the Switch version alone is likely to outsell MKWii by the end of this year.
Though it was as successful as it could’ve been on Wii U, it’s much awesome to see it gain the user base it rightly deserved on Switch. Amazing sales for a fantastic game.
38 million copies.....
Still no new dlc after 4 years, how could this be guys?
damn Nintendo is on a roll, best selling fighting game and now racing game?
I'm surprised Nintendo has done little to take advantage of the success of Mario Kart. Two spin-offs which seemed like cool concepts, but barely any new content added to the Deluxe version, post-launch. As a Wii U port, it's certainly the best (aside from maybe Breath of the Wild). As the best-selling Switch game, I think it could use more.
Good for them! But personally i don't really enjoy the newer MK's, i don't really know what it is with them that doesn't "connect" with me. Last one i really enjoyed was MKDD.
If there is not going to be a Mario Kart 9 for the Switch, new DLC is desperately needed. 48 tracks is nothing to scoff at, but I've been racing those same 48 tracks since 2015(since i had mk8 on my wii u and all of its dlc). As great as many of those tracks are, I am simply burned out on them and this is the primary reason I no longer fire the game up for online races almost daily like I did with the Wii U version back in the day. With such a massive install base, imagine how well some new DLC packs would sell! Nintendo would rake in the $$$.
@Expa0 Couldn't disagree more. I love how streamlined MK 8 is. It has just enough trademark MK chaos to be fun, but not too much like Double Dash and Wii do. I was frankly extremely disappointed with Team Crash Racing. The BS drifting mechanics are rage inducing! Also, the online lobbies are pretty barren. It has been collecting dust for months now. At least I only paid 20 bucks for it..
Mario Kart 9: Smash Tournament
Race with characters from all your favorite games
Each character has its own special upgrades and power ups
Each unique game universe has its own special track
Sounds sweet
Can't wait for Mario Kart 9! Sold Mario kart 8 deluxe after a year, had played it a bunch on the Wii U and anytime I raced anyone on Switch it was an absolute bloodbath for them sooo yeah, in the spirit of fair competition I had to sell it so that some day when I race someone it will be a fair, fun match for them.
As one who likes racing games but isn't often hooked by them for long, yes this is well deserved! I've had some fun with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I nearly grabbed the Wii U version until the Switch iteration was announced.
@Snatcher Ok course they will, just not for the current Switch which is good as id prefer a MK9 on the Switchs successor wth improved visuals, physics, A.I and track complexity all things that require more capable hardware. Any release on the current Switch wouldnt be distinct enough from MK8D making it pointless.
Id rather the Mario Kart team focus resources on making MK9 as good as it can be instead of splitting time and manpower on DLC for a launch window game.
@Patendo Dude Mario Kart 8 already had DLCs, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the complete version with all DLCs included.
Deluxe may not have any new tracks but with the DLC included & fire-hopping removed, I was sold.
@Entrr_username who's the other9?
@electrolite77: "They sold new copies of Mario Kart Wii for 12 years"
@Dr_Lugae: "At the current rate the Switch version alone is likely to outsell MKWii by the end of this year."
Ah, fair enough then 👍
I am still impressed that nearly two third of WiiU owners got Mario Kart 8. It is the systems best selling game for a reason.
MK9 will most likely come out on the Switch. Doesn’t make any sense to ignore a large install base with a highly anticipated game.
MK8 is still fun to this day. I normally play it online with family.
Combining the sales of the two versions doesn't make sense to me - it's not like Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but like more like Diamond and Platinum. DKC Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2, and NSMBU - sure, pretty much the same. But this game and I'd say Captain Toad, Hyrule Warriors, and Pokken Tournament as well are, by my estimation, different enough to be counted as separate games.
@everynowandben How are they “different enough”?
MK8+DLC and Deluxe are the same games, just the latter has the slightest improvements in some of the code (to run better on Switch).
Would you not count the PS4 version of Assassins Creed Odyssey along side the PC version, just because the PC version has updated code?
With MK9 being a questionable business move for Nintendo, profit wise - given the steady sales of MK8. The best mid ground seems DLC - keeps the players happy and doesn’t cannibalise sales from MK8
@Antraxx777
1. Deluxe added a huge new multiplayer battle mode that was not included in the Wii U, which addressed probably the biggest complaint most people had with the original
2. Deluxe includes the DLC which of course added a significant amount of content
3. The Wii U Gamepad creates a significantly different multiplayer experience that can't be replicated on Switch
4. You can carry 2 items in Deluxe - huge difference in how the game plays
5. New items not found in the original that significantly changes gameplay
6. New characters, karts, and kart components
7. Up to 8-player multiplayer (Wii U was only up to 4)
8. Smart steering option in Deluxe
Never played Assassin's Creed so I can't say for sure. It's possible you could guess my opinion though based on the examples I gave in my previous comment regarding what I consider to be "different enough" to count as a separate release.
Only downside to 8 compared to Wii is that Birdo isn't playable. :v
Never understood how completely incompetent Nintendo is at releasing additional content for this game. Any other company would be supporting a game like this with additional courses/drivers, you name it for years afterwards, but nope! Not Nintendo.
They should release free map packs to keep people coming back and then charge for new characters and costumes to cover the costs of the maps. With over 30 million Deluxe players, they would make so much money. It's so ridiculous that they don't. The worst thing they can do is release a MK9 and split the user base, much like the terrible decision to split the Splatoon user base by introducing Splatoon 3.
Well deserved. For most people, it's the best in the series by far, and as someone that boycotted the WU (and the Wii), I've relished it on Switch.
Of course, the sad part is, while it still sells like crazy, we won't see Mario Kart 9 until the Switch's successor or upgrade. I'm find with that too, as I'm still to complete parts of MK8D and it has much more life online too.
And no updates, typical of Nintendo
@TanukiTrooper I don't think Splatoon 3 is going to split the player base. The vast majority of people who are still playing Splaatoon 2 now, years after its release, are going to buy 3. If Activision can crank out a new CoD every single year, Nintendo can put out a new Splatoon every 4-5 years.
So many people are clamoring for MK9 but I don't see why Nintendo would do that on the current Switch. No console generation has ever gotten two MK games. They should have just introduced more DLC for MK8 imo.
There's no need for a Mario Kart 9 right now, and one certainly won't be released for the switch. MK8 is a fantastic game with a ton of content and there's no reason to think MORE DLC will be coming.
There won't be a Mario Kart 9 on Switch. They have absolutely no reason to release another MK title on the system while MK8 remains an evergreen staple selling very well.
That said, with such a large install base I don't know why they don't release more DLC.
I hope this will make everyone understand that Nintendo haters will ALWAYS lose. No exceptions.
So a new Mario kart......
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