Super Mario Run hits 40M downloads despite criticism

Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s highly anticipated new iOS game, achieved more than 40 million downloads in four days after launch, but questions still remain over its long-term prospects.In a press release by Nintendo, the company revealed the figures, adding that the app ranked top in the “free charts” in 140 countries, and is also in the top 10 in the “top grossing” category in 100 countries.
The game has clearly kept up its momentum since launching on 15 December in 151 countries. Apps analytics firm App Annie said it ranked top on the App Store in 60 countries “immediately”, generating $4 million in consumer revenue on day one alone. This reached $19 million by 19 December.
The game featured heavily on the App Store before launch, racking up more than 20 million pre-registrations, which helped it attract a base of fans that were likely to pay to unlock the full game, App Annie explained.
However, Nintendo’s model to offer the whole game for a one-off cost of $9.99 means the majority of revenue will come early on in the game’s lifecycle.