3DS is the most successful Nintendo launch in the UK
Nintendo announces the opening 3DS sales figures for UK and Europe. Despite setting a new company record, it underperformed.
We know that the 3DS’ UK launch went pretty well, what with the record breaking pre-orders and the healthy performance of 3DS software in this week’s charts. Today, Nintendo made it official just how well it went and believe it or not, it wasn’t all good news.
It shifted 113,000 units over the launch weekend, which is still a strong start no matter which way you look at it. It ousted both the Wii and the DSi’s early release figures (106,000 and 90,000 units respectively) to narrowly become the fastest-selling Nintendo console in the UK.
However, it failed to reach the predictions made by analysts and Nintendo themselves. Prior to launch, Nintendo UK’s marketing manager James Honeywell was confident that it would sell “comfortably over 150,000, if not more like 200,000”.
The figure was also shy of the 140,000 confirmed pre-orders Nintendo had announced previous to launch day. MCV posits that the discrepancy may have occurred due to retailers buying more units than necessary in order to meet customer demand.
The Playstation Portable still holds the crown for the fast-selling system in the UK with 185,000 units though if MCV is to be believed it retains it because of a technicality. Apparently this figure was recorded over a four day opening period instead of the 3DS’ two days. It doesn’t seem like a fair comparison to me but for this reason the PSP remains unbeaten.
It was also confirmed that Nintendo’s new baby had sold 303,000 units across Europe. Whether this is inclusive of the UK’s figures is unclear. Though this is short of the Wii’s 325,000 opening weekend there, Nintendo has reaffirmed that the 3DS is the “fastest selling Nintendo handheld device over a launch weekend” in Europe.
Sources: MCV, Eurogamer, GamaSutra
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Nintendo announces the opening 3DS sales figures for UK and Europe. Despite setting a new company record, it underperformed.
We know that the 3DS’ UK launch went pretty well, what with the record breaking pre-orders and the healthy performance of 3DS software in this week’s charts. Today, Nintendo made it official just how well it went and believe it or not, it wasn’t all good news.
It shifted 113,000 units over the launch weekend, which is still a strong start no matter which way you look at it. It ousted both the Wii and the DSi’s early release figures (106,000 and 90,000 units respectively) to narrowly become the fastest-selling Nintendo console in the UK.
However, it failed to reach the predictions made by analysts and Nintendo themselves. Prior to launch, Nintendo UK’s marketing manager James Honeywell was confident that it would sell “comfortably over 150,000, if not more like 200,000”.
The figure was also shy of the 140,000 confirmed pre-orders Nintendo had announced previous to launch day. MCV posits that the discrepancy may have occurred due to retailers buying more units than necessary in order to meet customer demand.
The Playstation Portable still holds the crown for the fast-selling system in the UK with 185,000 units though if MCV is to be believed it retains it because of a technicality. Apparently this figure was recorded over a four day opening period instead of the 3DS’ two days. It doesn’t seem like a fair comparison to me but for this reason the PSP remains unbeaten.
It was also confirmed that Nintendo’s new baby had sold 303,000 units across Europe. Whether this is inclusive of the UK’s figures is unclear. Though this is short of the Wii’s 325,000 opening weekend there, Nintendo has reaffirmed that the 3DS is the “fastest selling Nintendo handheld device over a launch weekend” in Europe.
Sources: MCV, Eurogamer, GamaSutra
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Contributed by compfaqz