Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, available exclusively on Nintendo Switch, is still selling millions of copies even now, even though the game is seven and a half years senior.
In its latest financial report, Nintendo said Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold another 2.31 million units between April and September, meaning Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has now sold an incredible 64.27 million . In fact, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold almost as many copies this fiscal year as the all-new The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and more than Pario Mario: The Thousand-Year Door or Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is undoubtedly the best-selling game on Nintendo Switch, overtaking Animal Crossing: New Horizons (46.45 million) in second place. It’s uncomplicated to understand its enduring popularity; Not only is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe great in its own right, but it’s an almost necessary purchase for any recent Switch owner looking for a fun game to play with family and friends right out of the box. Speaking of which, it looks like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will continue to sell well, with Nintendo overtaking the Switch ahead of the key holiday sales period.
The question is: will Nintendo release a sequel, likely Mario Kart 9, for the upcoming Switch 2, or will it continue Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s dominance with backwards compatibility and a powerful next-gen update?
Nintendo has so far kept its cards close to its chest when it comes to information about the Switch 2. The only thing it says in the filing is that an announcement will be made at some point in the fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. Analysts currently say that it is unlikely that Nintendo will unveil the Switch 2 this year. The premiere of the console itself seems to be scheduled for the next financial year, i.e. April 2025 at the earliest.
Wesley is the UK news editor at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. Wesley can be reached at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wy100@proton.me.
