'Mario Kart 8' Reaches 2 Million Copies Sold: Nintendo Confirms Worldwide Sales

Racing game “Mario Kart 8” has sold 2 million copies in less than a month, Nintendo announced at its 74^th annual general meeting of shareholders on Thursday.

The general manager of the integrated research division, Genyo Takeda, 65, made the announcement on behalf of company President Satoru Iwata during the shareholder meeting.

“Mario Kart 8” launched May 30 for Nintendo’s Wii U console. Last week, Port Washington, New York-based market research company NPD Group reported that “Mario Kart 8” was the third-best-selling game software in May. It also became the Wii U’s fastest-selling game with more than 1.2 million units sold worldwide within less than two weeks of its launch. The game’s launch also boosted sales of the Wii U by more than 90 percent over May 2013.

On June 2, UK market research and media sale monitoring company GFK Chart-Track revealed the game had boosted Wii U sales by 666 percent, with 82 percent of sales from the “Mario Kart 8” bundle.

“Wii U exclusive ‘Mario Kart 8’ races comfortably into second place [after Ubisoft’s action adventure game ‘Watch Dogs],” the company announced. “The much-loved series makes an impressive debut, becoming the bestselling week 1 for any Wii U title since launch and the second-best in the Mario Kart series ever.”

Since the Wii U's launch in 2012, the console's sales figures have been less than impressive, though Nintendo (TYO:7974) is working hard to create some system-selling software for the console.

“This year, we had a steady stream of great content,” Scott Moffitt, executive vice president of marketing at Nintendo, told International Business Times last week during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. “'Mario Kart 8’ is just phenomenal. You just jump in; there’s always people ready to race. It seems like online play has gotten really popular. I love that.”

In the game, there are 32 courses with two Rainbow Roads. There are 16 mainstay characters, with 14 unlockable characters.

Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Toad, Koopa Troopa, Daisy, Shy Guy, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach and Baby Daisy are the 16 mainstay characters.

The 14 unlockable characters are Rosalina, Toadette, Metal Mario, Lakitu, Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, Ludwig, Pink Gold Peach, Baby Rosalina and your own Mii.

Did you buy a Wii U to play "Mario Kart 8?" Leave a comment below.

And, just because it's Friday, here's an awesome Luigi death stare video.