Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Not Just a Nintendo Cash Grab

A lot of folks are calling Nintendo’s re-release of old games on the Nintendo Switch a cash grab, and while I understand the thought process, I disagree with the argument. While I’ll be the first to admit that Nintendo does somehow trick us into buying old games again and again and again, the process by which they are re-launching Wii U titles on the Nintendo Switch doesn’t fall into this category, and for one specific reason – sales numbers.

Wii U Disaster

As much as I personally loved the Nintendo Wii U, the console was all but a major flop for Nintendo, and made them head back to the drawing board to figure out a new, better plan. Call it poor marketing, call it launching and under powered system. No matter how you look at it, and no matter what reasoning you use, it was an epic disaster. Poor system, outstanding games. Unfortunately, very few folks got to enjoy those amazing games.

Let’s take a look at sales numbers. The Wii U as a console sold roughly 13.5 million units. Some of their best selling games according to the Japanese Nintendo website were Mario Kart 8 (8.5 Million Units), Super Mario 3D World (5.86 Million Units), New Super Mario Bros U (5.81 Million Units), etc. Many of these titles were given a re-release on Nintendo Switch. Why? so few folks have played them.

Nintendo Switch Success

So let’s take a look at the Nintendo Switch in comparison. As of December 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold just over 76 million units. That is almost 6x the number of Nintendo Wii U units sold, which also equals 6x more players. When you look at these stats, Nintendo would be stupid to NOT relaunch their games on the Switch. Let’s assume that EVERYONE who bought Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U have purchased a Nintendo Switch. That means that roughly 67.5 million people have never owned Mario Kart 8. Let that number sink in.

As someone who has owned and played all these titles on the Wii U, I don’t understand the thought process of folks complaining about Nintendo’s rollout of games, or that they are going back to the well to relaunch older titles that very few folks got to play. And to their credit, Nintendo is trying to make the re-released titles enticing to purchase, in most situations. New content or DLC have been packed into almost every Nintendo relaunch, and this will be highlighted next month when Super Mario Bros 3D World launches with the brand new Bowser’s Fury story content. No one should be complaining, but unfortunately, folks still will.

What do you think? Is Nintendo cheating fans by relaunching old titles?