Iwata: 3DS has Regained its Vigor, to Reach 3 Million in Japan Soon

by William D'Angelo, posted on 07 December 2011 / 1,464 Views

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president, in an interview at Nikkei and translated by Andriasang, said that the 3DS has regained its vigor following the price cut in August and the release of major titles such as Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.

Iwata said that the 3DS will cross three million units sold in Japan soon, which is two weeks ahead of the DS. He also expects it to reach four million before its one year anniversary. According to VGChartz the 3DS has sold 120,000 units in Japan for the week ending November 27 and is at a total of 2.67 million in the country. Sales are expected to rise even higher the following week with the release of Mario Kart 7 and should cross three million in the week ending December 11. Iwata indicated that Mario Kart 7 sold around 420,000 units in its first week, which is about double the DS version.

Speaking about international markets, Iwata feels the holiday rush started a couple weeks later than normal, but that the Mario titles are off to a better start than in Japan. While Nintendo is expected to post an overall loss for the current fiscal year, Iwata said that the company is expected to return to profits in the next fiscal term. According to VGChartz the 3DS sold just under one million units worldwide during Black Friday week and has sold nearly nine million units.


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7 Comments

oni-link
oni-link (on 07 December 2011)

Amazing, seems like the 3DS might sell 10mil units by the end of this year!!! Chances of the unit being a flop is going down to near(if not already) zero!!! It should reach 12mil by the time of it's first year anniversary for sure.

  • +8
pezus
pezus (on 07 December 2011)

10mil by the end of the year is a bit conservative imo...I'd say 12m+

  • +2
Play4Fun
Play4Fun (on 07 December 2011)

Hurrah!

  • +5
Nintendogamer
Nintendogamer (on 07 December 2011)

more than what virtual boys did 770K, lol at virtual boy 2 narks.

  • +4
Red4ADevil
Red4ADevil (on 07 December 2011)

Almost 10 million units and it hasn't been a year yet, keep going NIntendo you're doing great. Flop my foot; where are all the naysayers now?

  • +4
Mad55
Mad55 (on 07 December 2011)

Thats what im talking about. I never wish for a console or handheld to perform bad we need all around good sales from the big 3

  • +3
ryuzaki57
ryuzaki57 (on 08 December 2011)

3DS is still in danger of taking a Wiiish path : a system depending on Nintendo franchises and leaving little room for 3rd parties. It will be interesting to see whether 3DS can keep selling once the holidays are over.

  • 0
Tammi
Tammi (on 07 December 2011)

waiting for 10 million mark.....might be soon!

  • 0