Japanese 3DS Sales Hit New High in Christmas Week

But, wait, I thought Nintendo would be doomed once the Vita was released?!

Seriously, though, I read on another site that the 3DS sales have now exceeded the lifetime sales of the GameCube in Japan.

Massive change of fortunes for Nintendo over the last couple of months. Even the Wii sales have made a surge. The consoles do deserve big sales however

I knew it was a good idea to buy 99 stocks in the 3DS district.

(I gotta stop playing Fortune Street, it's getting in my head)

Wow that's awesome, can't wait to get a 3DS of my own sometime early next year, MK7 & SML3D look heaps fun

@md1500 Read the third paragraph of this story again

That's kind of embarrassing for the Game Cube, the 3DS sold more in less than a year. That's hard to believe, I feel like I didn't read that right.

Even if time ago was stated that the reduction of the 3DS original price will affect them with loss, they'll be gaining much more just for the fact of the console's expansion throughout the world, they'll continue to dominate the market with a lot of presence and of course they won't be loosing at all =)

Great News!

@James Oops. Must have missed that! Apologies.

Great numbers for the 3DS!

Nintendo's 16M estimation by year end Aprill 2012 can be met, God willing.

@james
Any word on unit sales figures for the rest of the world?

Congrats 3DS and Nintendo! I love my new 3DS. This system blew my expectations out the water. I love the eShop and the 3D looks amazingly sharp. I have 8 games already between retail and eShop with many more on my mind. Kid Icarus looks amazing. Check out the eShop preview.

oh yeah nintendos doomed alright even if the PS4 sells more then the Wii U nintendo isnt going anywhere

@Shworange Probably at the next quarterly financial review which is at the end of January, I believe.

3DS will go on to beat DS

3DS is doing FAAAR better than DS in the same time frame. Things are looking up. Dedicated gaming handhelds are here to stay. And I see lots of kids with 3DSes now.. It's catching on.

Hope Vita does well in a year (just came out anyhow). More competition = everyone wins

I don't think comparing console sales with handheld console sales are especially fair though. They are just too different from eachother. But if it would exceed the Gameboy Advance for instance, that would be marvelous.

Not that the numbers look bad, but anyway. I am looking forward to a quality of great games coming up in 2012.

^Where I would agree that they are different. The line is getting more blurred everyday. Just look at up coming games like resident evil or kid Icarus. These type of games were not possible just a few short years ago. Now with the 3ds and vita. Who knows how far that line can get even further blurred! Sure it will never make a great fps the screen is just to small. For the other franchises though the sky is the limit!

The 3DS is a straight up nightmare beast!

Awesome to see that the 3DS has really picked up steam. I hate to admit it but its a good thing the Vita didn't come out sooner. if it had hit the 3DS like a month or two after its launch, it might have never recovered. Now that its built itself up though, I see no real threat from the Vita. And if Monster Hunter 4 turns out to be 3DS exclusive, Sony can kiss this competition good bye :3

Wow. Wait until MH4, which is supposed to be a global release. Also Kid Icarus, Tekken, Metal Gear, Resident Evil, Paper Mario, too many to list. The eShop has been adding games with a quickness. What if they end up releasing another Smash Bros.? The sky is the limit. Nintendo is the leading innovator in the video game industry. Who would Microsoft and Sony copy if there were no Nintendo?

Now if they revive the Wii VC they can earn a lot of money.

Not surprised. I don't get the anti- Microsoft and Sony thing going on though... they're only companies trying to make money, and yes, they HAVE come out with lots of original things, but with Nintendo spanning back into the 1800's they pretty much beat everyone to the draw.

I am not anti-Microsoft, I love my XBOX 360, but I am anti-Sony, and I have the right to be. This website IS named nintendolife. Nintendo came out with the touchscreen handheld, and Sony later came out with the PSP. The Wii was copied with the Move and Kinect. The Wii-U which will interface the home console to a touchscreen handheld, will more than likely be copyed with the PS4/Vita. Nintendo takes the risks and that's why they are the leader. It has nothing to do with ...spanning back into the 1800s; Look how that turned out for Sega. All I'm saying is that you have to respect Nintendo because they have shaped the industry of video games more than any other company. What's the point of making a big announcement like this if you can't throw it in Sony's face, lol?