Selling over two million additional copies since its last milestone in just three months is impressive, but it gets even better. Red Dead Redemption 2 is now officially the fourth best-selling game of all time, unseating Mario Kart 8. The latter has sold 8.46 million on the Wii U, and combined with the 69.56 million sold on Nintendo Switch with the Deluxe version, it totals a cool 78.02 million.

Not bad for a 2014 title that inexplicably beat out every other first-party Switch game in history, to the point where Nintendo released 48 new DLC tracks from 2022 onwards. But Rockstar’s magnum opus still beat it out. If the rumored Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions ever materialize, could it soar even higher? Possibly, but we’ll need to wait until they’re a reality first.

In the meantime, as successful as Red Dead Redemption 2 has been, it’s interesting how much doubt was cast on it when development was behind schedule and over-budget, per former head writer Dan Houser.

Furukawa said this in response to a question raised during the Q&A session of the earnings report about the increase in component costs and how this will affect the Nintendo Switch 2. He noted that there are areas Nintendo is investigating that could see cost reductions in response to rising component pricing.

“We believe that we’ll be able to maintain the current level of profitability for hardware for the time being unless there are significant changes in external factors, such as a shift in tariff assumptions, or other unexpected events,” said Furukawa. “While we are aware that the costs of various materials are rising, we also anticipate some areas where cost reduction may be achieved for Nintendo Switch 2 through ongoing mass production efforts.”

“Therefore, currently we do not expect the recent rise in material costs to greatly impact profitability. We will continue our efforts to maintain the same level of profitability as we currently have.”

Furukawa also spoke about the sales momentum that Nintendo has been seeing with the Switch 2. When asked whether the company is exploring options to grow the new console’s user base beyond the currently-targeted pre-existing customers of the original Switch, he noted that the company expects to remain in that same phase for the time being. At the same time, however, the company is also working to broaden its market by appealing to new consumers as well.

“For now, we expect to remain in a phase where it is primarily existing Nintendo Switch owners who will purchase Nintendo Switch 2. But at the same time, we will work to convey the appeal of Nintendo Switch 2 to new consumers through the release of software titles and other means.”

As for the differences between early adopters and late customers, Furukawa noted that sales of the Switch 2 between early buyers of the original Switch and late buyers have been pretty even.

Elsewhere in the Q&A, member of the board, executive fellow and representative director Shigeru Miyamoto also commented on the success of the Mario Kart franchise, especially in the company’s more recent console generations. When asked whether there is a possibility that a game could come out on the Nintendo Switch 2 that could surpass the Mario Kart franchise in sales, Miyamoto said that, while Nintendo allows developers freedom to try new ideas, there is a chance that it may remain unbeaten.

“One thing that is interesting about Nintendo is that it’s okay to try anything,” said Miyamoto. “On the other hand, even if something like that happens, Mario Kart would probably continue to sell well in that undertaking as well, so it may never be surpassed!”

According to the report, there have been a total of 71 million games sold in 2025 across PC and consoles in Europe, which marks a 6 percent drop over the same period from 2024. This data accounts for sales having taken place up to July 28. Of the 71 million game sales, 52 million were digital copies, while 19.7 million were physical copies. These are 3 percent and 9 percent reductions over the previous year, and around 74 percent of games sold this year in Europe have been digital, which, when it comes to percentages, is a 2 percent rise from 2024.

The best-selling game in Europe in 2025 has been EA Sports FC 25. The title was released back in 2024, and taking it into account, Assassin’s Creed Shadows currently sits in the number 2 spot for game sales overall in Europe across PC and consoles. The top 20 sales chart, which you can check out below, also include other games released this year, including The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Elden Ring: Nightreign, and Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World. It is worth noting that digital sales data for Nintendo games hasn’t been revealed.

The data, coming from official European charts company GSD, also interestingly omits Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It was noted as being missing because publisher Kepler Interactive hasn’t shared sales data for the game with GSD. An analyst from GSD, Sam Naji, also revealed some details about how game spending has changed for PC and consoles over the year.

In his analysis, Naji said that the first 19 weeks of 2025 saw spending drop by 2 percent compared to 2024, down to €1.33 billion, while the number of copies sold dropped by 9 percent. He attributed this to the average price of games having gone up by around 8 percent, with gamers spending an average of €29 per game, when compared to 2024’s average of €27 per game. He also noted that digital spending had gone up by 8 percent compared to a 6 percent drop in number of units sold, attributing it to a 15 percent rise in average price for digital games – €22 to €25 per game.

Best Selling Games in Europe for 2025 Across PC and Consoles:

1. EA Sports FC 25 (EA)
2. Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
3. Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)
4. Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar)
5. Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros)
6. Split Fiction (EA)
7. Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Activision Blizzard)
9. Mario Kart World (Nintendo)
10. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Plaion)
11. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Bethesda)
12. Star Wars Battlefront 2 (EA)
13. Elden Ring: Nightreign (Bandai Namco)
14. It Takes Two (EA)
15. Grand Theft Auto Online (Rockstar)
16. NBA 2K25 (2K Games)
17. F1 25 (EA)
18. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft)
19. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo)
20. Battlefield 1 (EA)

In an interview with Quest France, Yabuki spoke about not wanting Mario Kart World’s roster to feel “incongruous” by having characters from disparate universes. He also said that the development team didn’t find it necessary to bring in characters like Link and Zelda, considering the already expansive character roster in the kart racer.

“As developers, it would have seemed incongruous to us to add characters from other games into this universe.” Yabuki said (via Google Translate). “It didn’t seem necessary to us, given everything we could already do with Mario.” Yabuki also said “Absolutely not!” when asked about adding characters from ARMS to the series.

He also noted that, while Mario Kart World lacks many of the guest racers from other Nintendo franchises that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had, “the reception has been so warm that it surprised even us! It definitely exceeded our expectations.” Yabuki also confirmed that the Cow has been his favourite new addition to the kart racer’s roster so far.

In the same interview, Yabuki also reiterated the studio’s previous insistence that it doesn’t like calling Mario Kart World an open-world game because of the vagueness of the term’s definition. “We don’t really use the term open world on our side,” Kosuke Yabuki said, ” because the definition can be a little vague. The main idea is to be able to explore beyond the tracks, to be able to wander around in this continuous world.”

When it comes to the kart racer’s overall world design, Yabuki also spoke about how the development team didn’t want to add more scenery for players to explore just for the sake of it. Rather, all of it has to contribute to the fun in some way. With this in mind, the studio also focused on allowing players to interact with the world in different ways, aiding in the sense of discovery that players can feel.

“But most importantly, every element had to contribute to the fun,” Yabuki explained. “We didn’t just want to add scenery for the sake of it: every time we added something, we thought about how players would interact with it, what effects it would have on them, or what they would discover.”

Mario Kart World was released on the Nintendo Switch 2 as one of the console’s launch titles. The development of the game also involved quite a few more people than its predecessor, with a report from last week indicating that three times more artists were involved in the latest game. For more details about it, check out our review. And in the meantime, also check out details of the game’s first update.

Animal Horizon: New Horizons has sold 47.44 million, slightly up from 47.82 million last quarter, which is understandable given the lack of updates. Sales for other titles were also only somewhat higher, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 32.81 million sold, Super Mario Odyssey selling 29.28 million, and so on.

Check out the full list below. The Nintendo Switch 2 is out on June 5th for $449.99 worldwide, so expect sales of older Switch titles to dip even further. It launches alongside titles like Mario Kart World (with a special bundle available in limited quantities until this Fall), Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and more.

In a recent video, Ellis and Yang spoke about how, even if a new Mario Kart were to come out alongside the Switch 2, the game might not end up hitting the critical mass of popularity that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hit back when it came out on the Switch. The duo also don’t believe that Mario Kart 9 would be as much of a system seller as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ended up being.

“Everybody has the expectation, ‘oh my gosh Mario Kart it’s a slam dunk, it’s a system seller, this is definitely the right game to put in front of this new system,'” said Ellis in the video. “but I think you’re right because if you look at the situation of Mario Kart up to this point, it’s a little bit different than what has been in the past and I’m not sure that transition for Nintendo or for the people who have been playing Mario Kart, I’m not sure that’s the slam dunk that people think it is.”

Yang spoke about how Nintendo has traditionally focused on showcasing brand new games as launch titles for its consoles. Using The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as an example, even thought it was a new game in the seminal Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild changed up just about every aspect that players familiar with the franchise would be able to recognise. Mario Kart 9, on the other hand, would be more of an evolution of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and is unlikely to feature brand new genre-defining gameplay changes.

“It’s a bit unconventional to have a game coming out that’s probably going to be the premier launch title for your new console to have this kind of history,” said Yang. “This is very unlike Nintendo. Usually when they have a launch title, like Breath of the Wild for example, it’s like this new game-breaking, genre-bending thing that’s never been seen before, and that’s what’s going to make you want to buy the new hardware.”

“But we’re kind of in a bit of a different situation with Mario Kart and honestly it’s because of how successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been for Nintendo,” she continued.

Considering the fact that the Switch 2 will also support games from the original Switch through backwards compatibility, Yang also questioned how Nintendo will be able to confuse its player base to leave the older (still playable) title behind and instead buy a brand new game.

“How is Nintendo going to convince me that I want to get the new Mario Kart?” Yang questioned. “That I need a Switch 2 to get the new Mario Kart?”

“I do think there are going to be some people who ask themselves, ‘I’m pretty happy with the Mario Kart I’ve been playing,’ and… Mom: ‘hey kids, we have Mario Kart at home…’ like, looking at this box and be like, ‘hmm, I’m not sure we need this Timmy,’” responded Ellis.

“I have no doubt this is going to be an incredible game,” he continued. “I have no doubt that every Mario Kart sells well. But in terms of the hill that this one in particular has to get over… This is Nintendo’s goal. This is always their goal: ‘we have to do better than the last one.’”

“It’s like, well are you really going to do better than 75 million? And it’s the same question with the Switch 2. It’s like, ‘oh you just did the best-selling console ever.’ It’s just these goals that they have for themselves are going to be incredibly hard to match.”

While Nintendo is yet to confirm any launch titles for the Switch 2, Mario Kart 9 is expected to be one of the big announcements since a new game in the Mario Kart franchise was spotted in the Switch 2 announcement trailer. While it may include other features, Mario Kart 9 is also expected to feature larger online races with more players.

Nintendo is slated to reveal more details about the Switch 2 during a Direct on April 2.

That’s up from 64.27 million sales in the last quarter. With a new Mario Kart on the horizon for the Nintendo Switch 2, it should be interesting to see if the current game’s sales take a hit. Nintendo teased the sequel in its reveal trailer for the console with 12 racers, a more open environment and a redesign for Donkey Kong.

Other notable first-party sales figures include Animal Crossing: New Horizon (47.44 million), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (35.88 million), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (32.62 million) and Super Mario Odyssey (29.04 million). Check out the full top ten below, which includes not one but two sets of Pokemon titles.

MotoGP 24

Unlike many annual sports titles MotoGP developer Milestone strive for meaningful improvement with every iteration, and MotoGP 24 is the biggest leap between versions since the Italian studio took over in 2013. Principal of these changes are bike physics, especially the feel of the rear brakes into corners and the stability of the 2-wheeler as you accelerate out. Competition is fiercer too: adaptive AI and penalties dished out from stewards to any rider on track – not just the player – fosters centimetre-close, front-wheel-to-rear-wheel racing.

]]> 605140 https://gamingbolt.com/mario-kart-8-deluxe-has-sold-64-27-million-units-animal-crossing-new-horizons-sells-46-45-million Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:30:51 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=603277 Alongside updated hardware numbers, Nintendo also provided fresh lifetime sales figures for its top-selling titles. To no one’s surprise, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to rule, reaching 64.27 million sales as of September 30th, 2024. Its last milestone was 62.9 sales, which means an additional 1.37 million units sold in the fiscal quarter.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is in second place with 46.45 million sales (from 45.85 million in the previous quarter). Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is in fourth place with 35.14 million units sold, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 32.29 million sales and Super Mario Odyssey at 28.50 million.

The only real change in rankings is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at 21.04 million sales, finally passing 2018’s Super Mario Party (20.98 million units sold) for eighth place. Check out the top ten best-selling titles for the Nintendo Switch as of September 30th below.

As per fresh data released by Famitsu on weekly physical software sales in Japan, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was once again among the best-selling games for the week in Japan, coming in at No. 2 in the software charts with over 7,000 units sold. More notably, the game’s lifetime sales in Japan have now also crossed 6 million units. Specifically, sales stand at 6,005,594 units.

Incredibly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still not the bestselling Nintendo Switch title in Japan. That crown rests on the head of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which has sold over 7.9 million units in Japan (and continues to edge closer to the 8 million mark). Meanwhile, trailing behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with over 5.5 million units sold in the region.

It’s worth noting that the aforementioned figures only constitute physical sales, though Japan does see a larger share of physical sales than most other regions do. Regardless, the mentioned figures aren’t the full extent of the titles’ sales.

As of June 30, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s worldwide sales stand at 62.9 million units.