Mario Kart World Sets New Sales Record in Japan

Nintendo's "Mario Kart World" was the best-selling game in Japan for the week of July 7-13, according to Famitsu sales data. The game was exclusive to the Switch 2 console. Other Switch 1 games, such as "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" and "Animal Crossing: New Horizons," also made the top 6. The best-selling game not on a Nintendo console was Kojima Productions' "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach," which is a PlayStation 5 exclusive title.

Nintendo's "Mario Kart World," exclusive to the Switch 2 console, topped the Japanese sales charts for the week of July 7-13, according to Famitsu sales data. The game sold 65,853 retail copies, making it the best-selling new release of the week [1]. Other notable Switch 1 titles such as "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" and "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" also made the top 6, highlighting the enduring popularity of these franchises.

The Nintendo Switch 2, released in early June, saw significant hardware sales, with 71,885 units sold during the same period [1]. This strong performance is consistent with the device's early success, as Nintendo reported selling over 3.5 million Switch 2 units globally within four days of its launch [2]. The Switch 2's release has also revitalized sales at retailers like GameStop and Best Buy, with US sales surging by 73% and 9.2% respectively in June compared to the previous year [2].

On the software side, Kojima Productions' "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" emerged as the top-selling game not available on a Nintendo platform. The PlayStation 5 exclusive title sold 4,162 retail copies, underscoring Sony's strong foothold in the Japanese gaming market [1]. This success is particularly notable given the market's dominance by Nintendo titles.

Sony's stock has seen positive analyst forecasts following the game's performance. The average target price for Sony Group Corp (SONY) is $30.14, with an average brokerage recommendation of "Outperform" [3]. This suggests that investors are optimistic about Sony's gaming portfolio and the potential for continued success with exclusive titles.

In conclusion, the week of July 7-13 saw Nintendo's "Mario Kart World" dominate the Japanese sales charts, while the Switch 2 continued to perform strongly. Sony's PlayStation 5 exclusive "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" also made significant inroads, demonstrating the effectiveness of exclusive game releases in driving sales.

References:
[1] https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/famitsu-sales-7-7-25-7-13-25
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/nintendo-switch-2-ignites-sales-spikes-at-gamestop-gme-best-buy-bby
[3] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2987930/playstation-exclusive-death-stranding-2-tops-nonnintendo-charts-in-japan-sony-sony-stock-news