Nintendo sold 600,000 DSi handheld in Europe, U.S. at launch

Sales figures show a warm reception around the world, said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata

Sales of Nintendo's DSi handheld device reached around 300,000 units in both Europe and the U.S. during its first two days on sale last week, the company's president said Thursday.

"These early launch results supplant the launch sales of the previous versions of the Nintendo DS," said Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo. "They show us that the DSi has received a warm welcome around the world."

The DSi is an update to the popular Nintendo DS Lite handheld that's been on sale for a couple of years. It's been slimmed down with the removal of a slot for GameBoy Advance cartridges. In addition, the two screens are slightly larger, two digital cameras have been added and there's a music player function.

Nintendo launched the DSi, the third version of the DS product line, as sales of the DS Lite began to drop in Japan. It's succeeded in turning around falling sales and has already sold more than 2 million in its first five months on sale in Japan.

Nintendo sold 600,000 DSi handheld in Europe, U.S. at launch

Importantly for Nintendo, it's also more expensive. The DSi costs $170 U.S. versus $130 for the DS Lite.

Combined sales of the three versions of the DS total more than 100 million units since their launch, and Nintendo is continuing to push the handheld towards a goal of one DS per person in Japan. Its surveys show an average of 2.8 DS users per Japanese household, but only 1.8 handhelds in each of those houses, giving it hope that it can sell a significant number of devices to users sharing a DS with other family members.

While sharing of the handheld may be possible around the same house, it becomes more difficult if users carry it with them all the time -- thus a new push to make the DS useful outside of the home.

Nintendo expanded the new DSi beyond pure gaming with the inclusion of digital cameras and a music player, and more is planned.

Comments [11]

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Toneman

OK... this isn't news... when a Nintendo product gets really poor sales, then make a headline of it. In other news, the sun came up this morning...

blublur

I didnt think Nintendo's PSP would sell that much, but it is Nintendo after all

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Dyfi

blublur wrote:

I didnt think Nintendo's PSP would sell that much, but it is Nintendo after all

I thought that this would be a flop, after hearing who said they would and wouldn't get it. I am one of those 600,000, I must admit, and I also got one for my sister. Nintendo is back- I mean still on top. GO NINTY

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Kubrick

I expected it to sell poorly but Nintendo proved me wrong once again. I want a real DS2 with better graphics. DS Ultra, Super DS, Virtual DS, DS Cube.

InnerHippie

great....like i didnt expect this...nintendo always sells... for some reason....

bronxsushi

I got 2 DSIs. One for myself and one for my niece. We spent hours playing with the camera then we remembered that it also plays games. Now my PSP will collect another layer of dust.

EJStrat

Meh, not interested. i'll wait for a psp2. in the meantime the original ds is probably dirt cheap by now, might pick one of those up while im waiting

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