It is fair to say that the sales figures for Nintendo’s Wii U have been fairly disappointing in its first year. But some good news has finally landed for the home of everyone’s favourite moustachioed plumber as Mario Kart 8 has sold an incredible 1.2 million copies in its first weekend. This figure includes the sales from United States, Europe and Japan.
Released to high praise from critics, Mario Kart 8 currently has the best review score average of any entry in the Mario Kart franchise.
Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime said, “The early response to Mario Kart 8 demonstrates that the best days for Wii U are still ahead. This year’s E3 is just days away, and it will be all about the future games for Nintendo platforms. This milestone is a great place to start!”
The Mario Kart 8 sales have also increased Wii U sales by 666%, 80% of which was Mario Kart 8 bundles.
Official Nintento Magazine’s Joe Skrebles wrote of Mario Kart 8, “It’s that confidence that encompasses everything here – Mario Kart 8 steps boldly out of the shadows of its predecessors, using their systems, ideas, even tracks, but adapting them to fit its own vision of a truly skilful game that people will obsess over, learning lines, kart set-ups and tricks, but never abandoning what it is people loved about the series. Perhaps calling it the first Wii U game isn’t quite right: Mario Kart 8 is so far beyond its competition that it’ll make you feel like you’re playing a whole new console.”
Did you pick up a copy of Mario Kart 8 over the weekend? What did you think?
Originally published June 3, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
