Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Delays a Win for the Nintendo Switch, If Not for Us

We might be upset about the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delays on Amazon, but the game’s popularity is good news for the Nintendo Switch.

I ordered my copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch almost a month ago, capitalizing on that neat Amazon Prime discount for my splurge on an expensive console game. I, like most, assumed that such a pre-order would result in me returning home on the game’s launch day to find it sitting neatly on my front porch, ready to play. Unfortunately, I was mistaken, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe didn’t show up until the following day. First world problem tragedy, I know.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone. Some folks are reporting their copies delayed even to today, resulting rightly in frustration from consumers who wished they had been notified sooner so they could purchase their copies elsewhere. But while there’s certainly something critical to be said here for Amazon’s customer service (though some people are reporting a free month of Prime for their trouble if they call and complain), the fact that the delays have been attributed to “inventory issues” marks a good sign for sales of the game and, connected to that, the Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch was met with skepticism in its initial month due to having really only one huge game at launch: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Though the eShop library has grown considerably since then, the shelves still look remarkably barren for the console and most of the eShop games are lesser-known or lower-reviewed indie titles that won’t appeal to many. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe represented the next huge game to appear on the console, and it’s clear that it will be the tipping point for many people ready to purchase a Switch.

Don’t get me wrong. The Nintendo Switch sold a hearty 2.74 million in its first month, and Nintendo is anticipating a total of 10 million by the financial year’s end. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and the numbers are even more optimistic when you realize that Breath of the Wild Switch copies apparently outsold the Switch itself due to a mixture of Collector’s Copies purchased alongside regular ones for play, fans finding the Switch sold out and getting the game for later, and folks picking up the game with the intent of purchasing a Switch later.

Next: 15 Awesome Zelda References in Breath of the Wild

So while some may still shake their heads at the Nintendo Switch due to its remaining flaws, such as no app support for streaming services such as Netflix, no online friend connections services (yet), and a small (though growing) library, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will likely result in a second boom for the console’s sales. The holidays will certainly be another, and we still have yet to see what Nintendo will announce for the console at this year’s E3 2017. I can’t wait!