A lot has been made of the sales for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, with CEO Yves Guillemot previously saying that the game underperformed. He also recently spoke about how the company should have held off launch for the Switch’s successor.
Series producer Cristina Nava has now chimed in, and indicated that the studio isn’t concerned about the sales of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Like the previous entry, Nava believes turn-based tactual experiences are slow burners and this one “will grow” over the years.
VGC has these quotes:
“The first Mario + Rabbids had more than 10 million players. Even though it’s Mario, it’s also a genre game: turn-based tactical adventure. So we cannot expect to sell high numbers at the very beginning, because a game like that is a slow burner. Even if at the beginning it seemed like Sparks of Hope didn’t meet expectations, we are confident that over a number of years it will grow. Because it’s been received, by both the press and the public, very, very well. It’s just a matter of giving it time, with word of mouth etc.”
“It’s more accessible than the first game, because we introduced real-time combat, so for less experienced players we take them by the hand and guide them. So I am sure, and have already witnessed that, the word of mouth will grow. We’re not worried on our side, because we know that we achieved what we wanted with this sequel. On our side, we’re not worried and we’re satisfied with what we did.”
Nava wouldn’t comment on what lies ahead, but teased that the team has “great ambitions as a studio lead to start a concept of another big, compelling game.”
As for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Ubisoft’s support is almost coming to an end. The last and biggest piece of DLC, Rayman in the Phantom Show, launches on August 30. Learn more about it here.
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