Screenshot 2017-01-31 at 10.28.37 AM.png

The 3DS may be getting a bit long in the tooth these days, but it enjoyed one of its best years ever in 2016, with encouraging sales of both hardware and software.

According to Nintendo's fiscal report for the nine months ending December 31st, 2016, the console had sold 6.45 million units worldwide - a ten percent jump over the same period in 2015. This will no doubt have been partly down to the arrival of Pokémon Sun and Moon, which shifted an amazing 14.69 million units during 2016. It was also revealed that Super Mario Maker for 3DS managed to clear a million units - not bad for a Wii U port on weaker hardware.

The performance of these and other titles meant that 46.78 million units of 3DS software were sold during the last nine months of 2016, a 20 percent jump over 2015.

Nintendo has acknowledged the impact of Pokémon GO in these figures, and has made a direct link between the arrival of the smartphone app and increased awareness of the 3DS and its Pokémon titles:

The release of the smart device application Pokémon GO led to increased sales of software in the Pokémon series released in the past and drove Nintendo 3DS family hardware sales growth, particularly outside of Japan.

The Nintendo Switch arrives in March and looks to unite Nintendo's domestic and portable interests, but the company has repeatedly maintained that the 3DS has a life beyond 2016. These encouraging figures would suggest that's not just PR speak, and 3DS owners have titles like Mario Sports Superstars, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia and Ever Oasis to look forward to this year.