Nintendo Switch 2 Hits 6M Sales, Mario Kart World Tops 5.6M Copies
▼ Summary
– Nintendo’s Switch 2 sold 3.5 million units in its first four days and nearly six million in its first month, becoming the most successful console launch ever.
– Mario Kart World sold 5.63 million copies, the best Mario Kart launch performance, largely due to Switch 2 bundle offers.
– Nintendo’s total sales from April to June reached 572 billion yen ($3.8 billion), including 1 million Switch 1 units and 24 million games for that system.
– Digital sales dropped 13% year-over-year, attributed to fewer downloadable game sales, while IP-related revenue fell 4.4% due to lower movie earnings.
– With 5.63 million Mario Kart World copies sold alongside 5.82 million Switch 2 consoles, the game is nearly ubiquitous among early adopters.
Nintendo continues to dominate the gaming market with its latest console, the Switch 2, surpassing expectations with nearly six million units sold in its first month. The company also reported staggering software sales, with Mario Kart World leading the charge at 5.63 million copies sold, a record-breaking launch for the franchise. Even the original Switch remains strong, moving another million units alongside 24 million games during the same period.
These figures cover sales through June, meaning unreported numbers from July likely push the Switch 2 closer to eight million units. With the holiday season still ahead, Nintendo appears well on track to meet its ambitious target of 15 million consoles sold by March 2026.
While hardware sales soar, digital revenue saw a 13% decline compared to last year, attributed to fewer downloads of packaged games. Additionally, revenue from IP-related ventures dipped slightly by 4.4%, primarily due to reduced earnings from movie tie-ins, a minor drop considering the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie two years prior.
Mario Kart World’s explosive debut stands out, especially since it outperformed previous franchise launches despite the Switch 2’s fresh install base. For comparison, Mario Kart Wii sold 4.7 million copies in four months, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, now the series’ best-seller with 64 million lifetime units, took a year to reach nine million. The new title’s success is partly due to bundle promotions, but standalone purchases remain strong, suggesting near-universal adoption among Switch 2 owners.
With nearly every console owner picking up Mario Kart World, anticipation builds for how other titles like Donkey Kong Bananza will perform. Had it launched alongside the Switch 2, the sales landscape might look even more impressive. For now, Nintendo’s momentum shows no signs of slowing.
(Source: Kotaku)
