What was Mario Kart Wii's North American release date?

Mario Kart Wii was released in North America on April 27, 2008. It was the sixth main installment in the Mario Kart series and launched exclusively for Nintendo’s Wii console.

The North American launch followed the game’s Japanese release on April 10, 2008, and preceded its European release on April 11. The staggered dates are a frequent source of confusion, especially because April 10 and April 27 are both genuine Mario Kart Wii release dates in different regions.

Nintendo packaged the game with the Wii Wheel accessory, a plastic steering-wheel shell for the Wii Remote. Motion-based steering helped make the title accessible to new players, while the game also supported conventional controls and multiplayer races for up to twelve competitors online.

Mario Kart Wii became a major commercial success. It eventually sold more than 37 million copies worldwide and is remembered for expanding the series’ audience through motion controls, a large character roster, motorcycles, and online play.