(Image credit: Nintendo)
With an astounding 67 million copies sold on the Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has become a monumental success for Nintendo. Surprisingly, two former employees reveal that the company was unaware of the game’s impending dominance, referring to it as a ‘juggernaut’ they didn’t initially anticipate.
In a revealing video titled “The problem with the new Mario Kart game on Nintendo Switch 2,” Nintendo of America alumni Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang reminisce about the Nintendo Switch’s launch and game lineup. Yang mentions, “inside Nintendo, [there was] not a clue” about the game’s future success, while Ellis notes that porting Mario Kart 8 was initially “kind of an afterthought.” Since many missed the opportunity on the Wii U, bringing the game to a wider audience on the Switch seemed promising.
The results speak for themselves, with Yang stating that it “sold and sold,” as evidenced by Nintendo’s sales data showing nearly 75 million copies across both consoles. Clearly, the Switch dominated these numbers, creating new opportunities and challenges.
This success places Nintendo in a bit of a pickle. Yang highlights their achievement in expanding Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with additional content but notes the upcoming challenge: persuading players to transition to the Switch 2 for the anticipated new Mario Kart 9. “I don’t know there’s that many people out there who are sick of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” Ellis admits, acknowledging it may not be a daily staple but still a go-to game for many.
As we await Nintendo’s strategy, the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct — soon just a week away — promises insights into the new racer. Perhaps it will become the defining game of the next decade.
In the meantime, community discussions and tales from gaming fans continue to flourish, with Mario Kart 9 enthusiasts speculating less about its title as a launch game and more about what the new name might bring.