I don't want to sound like a doom-monger, but this is the future of game development.
We've seen in just the past few months how AI has changed the game of enthusiast development in reverse-engineering the PS5 emulation, so it's completely unsurprising that money-grubbing companies like Epic would soon jump on it to keep costs down.
As we see the tech improve (which it is doing at an alarmingly fast rate), I wouldn't be surprised to see more coding be quietly switched from human hands to AI.

@Cero The 'offline version' is Mario Kart World.
Nintendo doesn't want a MK game permanently installed on people's phone instead of selling new hardware.

@johnedwin As someone who was around in the early 2000s I can very much confirm that people were picking up PS2s just for the DVD player as it was so competitively priced.
I vividly remember a friend's grandma having a PS2 sitting beneath her TV with 0 games ever played on it.

Very interesting to see MarioKart World sell above Pokopia for the first time in several months. I wonder if it's at all related to the DLC of the SNES courses?

I don't find this all that surprising as it seemed to be the big third party game at launch that was selling as well as the first party games.

I don't really understand why they would do this other than to remind us that this is no longer the game we use to know and love

Slow and steady wins the race.
I'm happy for Nintendo to drop feed improvements to Mario Kart across the next few years.
As for this content, I thought the game could do with more Knockout Tour tracks, and to get 2 more (with the promise of 6 more in the future) is especially welcome

Oh boy these were the tracks I was waiting for! The soundtrack for World is sublime!

@Potimarron
Sure there's no risk in asking, but what a waste of an opportunity. As the article points out it's clear that they wouldn't get an answer to this, but there are.. so many... Other questions that could have been asked to get an idea into Nintendos mindset.
Ask about industry trends, or broad strategy, areas or markets of growth, sales figures or expectations.
Basically anything that won't be met with, no comment.

I've yet to pick up 007, but I'm very much looking forward to when I finally do.
This is definitely the sort of game I'd primarily play on PS5, but I'm happy to see IO take their time with the port to get the Switch 2 version as smooth an experience as possible.

Interesting to see the Pokopia is now consistently charting above Mario Kart World

@UpsideDownRowlet Thank you for this update! I have since made full advantage of the android auto integration, and it makes listening to Nintendo Music on my journey to work even smother!

I was curious how they would go about adding the Free Road tracks, but this is perfect. I'm more than happy to be drip fed curated playlists of songs from the open world over the next few months! I listened to both playlists on my way to and from work yesterday and both had some bona fide bangers

I really like these sets! I'd rather they have come without the 'smart brick' interaction, but it seems to be pretty unintrusive and doesn't seem to have a big impact on the price. I'll probably pick up the Mewtwo set and the Bidoof and Bulbasaur set

Wonderful update, as a regular Nintendo Music user I almost love the browser compatibility and carplay more than I do the tracks added this week, simply because it signals that Nintendo are committed to continuously improving the service.
Here's hoping Android Auto compatibility is added soon.

@spottedleaf drought? What drought?
We had Yoshi a week or so ago, Tomodatchi Life in April and Pokopia in March.
I remember the Wii U days where we could go nine months with zilch between first party releases.
Shakes fist at cloud

Interesting to see Yoshi staying in the top 10! NGL I expected that game to drop immediately out of the charts but I clearly underestimated it.
As for the rest of the chart, well deserved to 007 and Batman taking the top spots.

I don't mean to be a downer, as this is a really important discussion, but personally, I found Hellblade unplayable due to the way it mimics the voices of psychosis. I got about 4 minutes in until I noped out.
Those 4 minutes were the most viscerally uncomfortable of any game I've ever played.

11/12 and currently ranking 28th. Got the Virtual Boy question wrong

I got Shovel Knight free on an indie games promotion on Wii U, never completed it but had a good time.
With that said, Zelda is much more my jam, if it's as good as critics say I'll have to pick it up.
GTA aside, I wonder how many GotY lists this will make.

Nintendo Music keeps on giving

Considering The Witcher 3 is a decade old this year, I think most people won't mind the latest DLC skipping last-gen consoles.

I think I will still pick this up digitally. I think its the sort of game that I will want downloaded on the console to dip into every so often.

Once again, Nintendo will probably be pretty happy with this chart. 9 out of the top 20 games are first-party exclusives.

As an aside, my money is for 007 First Light to take the top spot next week.

I think my mind must be stuck in the Wii U days but it's crazy to me to see 4 of the top 10 games be Nintendo exclusives!

I do wonder if the price increase will actually drive massive sales before it comes into affect. Especially alongside a bundle like this, knowing the price is about to jump by $50 could push people into picking up the hardware.

God I can't wait for this game, it looks amazing!
As a long time fan of all the Hitman games (yes even Absolution), I have to admit I was nervous when I heard IOI had been given the Bond licence, but by golly it looks like they've pulled it off. This could be the best Bond game in years!

Gosh the moaners are out in full force again today.
Maybe one day complaining about GKC will be a replacement for a personality... But not today.

Anyway, this bundle makes perfect sense, it's probably the next biggest system seller next to Mario Kart World. The only thing that surprises me is that we didn't see this sooner.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
When you try and earn a profit off Nintendo's back they'll go after you, simple as.

@AX-7 This argument might have held before they had their own service.
I use Nintendo Music every single week and it's growing library offers something for everyone, and is meaningfully curated with playlists, and extended tracks.

@Cikajovazmaj it has yet to release in Japan and South Korea so I think we can add another $100 million onto sales from those markets.

I think it may yet hit $1 billion.

As someone who has thoroughly enjoyed both movies (although I do prefer the second) I am very glad they are commercially successful.
Here to seeing much more of our favourite red plumber on the big screen!

Oh gosh this has me really wanting to play Night Sky.
I have incredibly fond memories of playing Knytt Underground on my Wii I over Christmas one year (2014?) and if this has any of that same magic, I'm sold

Loved the first movie, loved this second one. I'm glad it's doing well because I could happily watch 100 more. The animation is beautiful, the soundtracks are perfectly mixed and the Easter eggs and references have me bouncing in my seat with joy.

I loved the Toad who was holding the My Mario merch. Blatant product placement - yes. Adorably cute - also yes.

I'm usually extremely positive about Nintendo Music, but I must admit this is a bit of a disappointing week.
Whilst I know a lot of people are clamouring for the music from their latest titles to be dropped, I'd rather they release from their massive back catalogue first (Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, please)

I think Nintendo should be pretty happy with this top 10. Two Switch 2 exclusives and several Switch/Switch 2 games charting.
Not too shabby.

Oof seeing Mario Tennis: Fever beat out by the nearly 13 year old GTAV in the all format chart is a bit of a guy punch

Here's my weekly comment to say how much I love the Nintendo Music service.
The drip feed of new tracks gives me something new to listen to on a regular basis.
It doesn't need saying but Super Metroid has one of the best gaming soundtracks of all time. Brilliant addition.

A brilliant addition to the Nintendo Music Catalogue.
Two tracks I'd like to shout-out are:
Snowball Park
Champion's Road

Happy Mar10 Day!

@Sindayl Almost as if the opposition to GKC is held up by a vocal minority of hyper online hardcore enthusiasts and buy and large the mainstream consumer doesn't give two figs about whether the data is on the card or downloaded from a server...

Cute trailer. Looks like the amazing reviews have been heard as it seems to be sold out on Amazon UK!

RE games aren't for me (I don't do well with horror), but it's always good to see a critically acclaimed game selling well, especially on Nintendo hardware.

Dhelmise is an all time great 'mon design!

Ooof the Switch Era games get a tough ride here, as does the 3DS.
I'd put Sun and Moon in the top 5, and Sword and Shield is definitely better than the OG Gameboy games, which haven't aged that gracefully at all.

Never played Fire Red or Leaf Green thanks to the crazy prices of the 2nd hand market. In comparison this is a bargain!
I think I'll pick up Leaf Green but I'll want to check the different 'mons in each edition first.

Nintendo fans will always find a way to complain.
I think the price is fair, and I'm very happy I can own it outright rather than have to subscribe to NSO.

Really looking forward to this one. Watching some of the video impressions it looks even cuter than the original trailer. If they pull it off the interactions with the Pokémon (villagers) is the thing that could make this go really viral!
All this and we haven't even had Pokémon day (also my birthday) yet! What other surprises do The Pokémon Company have up their sleeve?

Love this game. Loathe Jonathan Blow.

Nice to be getting so many AAA third party games, like Indiana Jones and Elder Scrolls!