Several days after Super Mario Run posted a record-breaking performance at the Apple App Store, it has sustained a precipitous drop in terms of interest and engagement.
It has been toppled from the No. 1 highest-grossing app spot and while it still ranks as the top most downloadable free app for many countries, users from other locations seem to have moved on.
Consider the numbers: at its peak, Super Mario Run dominated the rankings in 138 countries. It is only hanging on its perch in 88 by Christmas.
Super Mario Run Pricing Controversy
The consensus appears to blame Nintendo's decision to unlock the full game only if players pay $9.99. Certainly, one can download it for free but the levels from the fourth onward are locked unless you pay for them.
Unhappy users have taken to using the review mechanism at the App Store to vent their ire.
"It was fun at first, but offering only three levels before hitting the pay wall is just plain greedy and stingy and feels very wrong," one of the users said.
The offshoot is that Super Mario Run has earned a measly 2.5 out of 5 rating despite its Editor's Choice classification.
Some observers point out that Nintendo could have just opted for the free model, offering in-game purchases if it really wants to turn a profit.
Further Decline
It is worth noting that the waning user interest in Super Mario Run has already been preceded by a decline in Nintendo's market value. Investors must have noted the level of vitriol the game has received once players realize the payment scheme.
Scrambling to rectify the situation, Nintendo has released a survey several days ago trying to gauge the amount of money that users are willing to pay in order to unlock the full game.
While Nintendo is not likely to share the result of its survey, there is another research that could shed more light into this area.
According to Apptopia, 1 to 2 percent of the current user base is willing to pay what Nintendo is asking for. That percentage spikes at around 4 percent if the price is slashed to $2.
Apptopia's report also included an earnings estimate. In the original price, Nintendo stands to earn around $30 million whereas it could take home $50 million if it settles on the $2 price tag.
"Right now, Nintendo is converting between 1-4 percent every day but they could be converting at more than 10 percent with a lower price point of $1.99," Apptopia's Adam Blacker told the International Business Times.
If Nintendo is indeed amenable to a price cut, it should act fast. It could wake up one day finding that Super Mario Run has suffered the same fate as its other titles, which have faded after a stellar showing at launch.
