The Nintendo Switch’s Best-Selling Game Almost Never Happened

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch sold 150.86M units, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 67.35M.
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe almost never happened, was an afterthought.
  • Potential skip to Mario Kart 9 if 8 Deluxe was passed over.

It’s fascinating to note that the Nintendo Switch’s top-selling game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, almost didn’t materialize. Previous employees have disclosed that the process of transferring the game from the Wii U was essentially an afterthought for the company, and its creation could have been abandoned entirely.

Currently, more than 150 million Nintendo Switch gaming systems have been purchased worldwide, placing it among the most popular consoles ever made. Furthermore, Nintendo announced that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 67 million copies, an impressive accomplishment for a single game on a console.

It’s astonishing to know that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe almost didn’t materialize. As Kit & Krysta shared on their YouTube channel, this game was essentially a last-minute addition and wasn’t initially viewed as a major title for the system. They were employed by Nintendo during the Switch’s launch preparation, and they disclosed that the higher-ups underestimated its potential impact.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Might Have Been Skipped

It’s quite logical that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe came out, given that its previous version was the top-selling game on the Nintendo Wii U. Plus, the gameplay style of Mario Kart is adored by so many, making it simple to argue for a fresh edition with added content.

As a gamer standing amidst the bustle of Nintendo’s grand launch event for the Switch, little did I know that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would become the titan it is today. It was just another game in the Switch lineup, and even within the walls of Nintendo, there seemed to be a veil of mystery surrounding its potential impact.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but wonder: What if Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had been overlooked? Perhaps, in response, Nintendo would have leapt straight to Mario Kart 9 and introduced an innovative new feature, effectively distancing itself from the Wii U version. It’s hard to say if such a move would have been successful, but with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon and a fresh Mario Kart game in its lineup, we might just catch a glimpse of what could have been.

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2025-03-26 23:38