In news that certainly surprised me, SEGA announced that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has sold 5 million copies worldwide since its release back in November.
What can I say, people love Mario and Sonic, so obviously the first game to feature both of the two characters, along with plenty of other characters from classic franchises, will sell pretty darn well.
After its release, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games maintained a firm position in the top 10 best selling games in the U.S. in December, along with maintaining high positions in top sales charts in Europe and England.
Simon Jeffery, president and COO, SEGA of America, said, "With adored icons and fun game play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has shot to the top of the sales charts and is clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience."
I wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel was being planned or the two mascots will be featured in other game environments. Jeffery briefly hinted at this with the following.
"The market for entertaining games that everyone can enjoy is growing faster than any other segment in the industry, thanks in part to the explosive popularity of Wii and Nintendo DS. A key element of our growth strategy at SEGA is to develop and publish games that appeal to this expanding market."
