Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s success was due to its multiplayer feature, according to Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa. Read on to learn more about what led to Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s record-breaking release.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Success Owed to "Multiplayer Magic"
"Around half of the people who play this game do so in multiplayer mode"
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t just the latest addition to the Mario franchise’s ever-growing collection of platforming games, it’s also the current record holder for the fastest-growing Mario title to date. Released in October 2023, this game sold nearly 11 million copies by December of the same year. That’s Nintendo for you, but what about this game really sold it? According to Nintendo's President Shuntaro Furukawa, it might have been the game’s multiplayer feature.
"Sales of Super Mario Bros. Wonder have grown at a faster pace than previous Super Mario titles," said Furukawa in an investor Q&A. "The game itself has been well-received in terms of its content, but I think another factor is that it is a title that can be played by two or more people."
"Around half of the people who play this game do so in multiplayer mode," Furukawa continued. "I think the title suited the need for a game that many people can enjoy with family and friends during the year-end holiday season, when people get together."
Super Mario Bros. Wonder was a major contributor to Nintendo’s success in the previous fiscal year, as Furukawa also revealed in the Q&A, but it’s far from being Nintendo’s only multiplayer game featuring the Goomba-stomping plumber. Could something else be affecting its electric reception?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Also Boosted SMBW
Furukawa also attributed Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s success to Illumination's recent Super Mario Bros. movie. The movie also brought revenues to Nintendo by itself in addition to its contributions to the sales of Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
The Nintendo president noted,saying "The Super Mario Bros. Movie is available for streaming around the world. So even though the theatrical release is over, the number of people who have seen the movie for the first time continues to increase, and we believe this has also helped us drive the good sales of Super Mario Bros. Wonder."
Sources:
Nintendo says Super Mario Bros. Wonder soared due to multiplayer magic
Super Mario Bros. Wonder delivers record-breaking sales after over 10 million players ride the inchworm
Official Transcript of Nitendo's Nine Months Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2024
