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.
Comments 37
Pokémon craze really was unlike anything I've ever seen before! The numbers for Sun and Moon are insane
Go, New 3DS Go !
Those are really good sales considering that Sun/Moon have only been on the market for two months. However, I have a feeling that those figures will stagnate unless Game Freak ports the game to Switch. Sun/Moon is just screaming for an HD port. I can't even imagine what the next generation of Pokémon games is going to look like.
It is currently, and will most likely be, my favorite system of all time. Counting indie games, it has a wide array of great games both destined to be cult classics and just overly replayed for the heck of it.
I know a lot of people want Nintendo to discontinue it, but 40 bucks for some of the gems that come to the system? I am not ready to say goodbye just yet.
It's kind of a shame that the gimped port of Mario Maker for 3DS sold so much better than the Wii U version. Granted, I always knew it would, given the 3DS's massive userbase, but I feel like it encourages Nintendo to rush ports and cut features...
Thanks, Game Freak.
That Club Nintendo exlusive trophy in the picture tho...
I said i would never get a handheld, then I got a 3DS with OoT for christmas. I now own three, play it everyday
@KTT I need that Blue Shell in my life.
Sun and Moon sold nearly 15 million copies in 3+ months. That's just craziness.
3DS is probably my favourite handheld system. The library continues to grow and the amount of limited editions are so great for amateur collectors like myself. I hope the system has a healthy 2017 and I already know of about 6-7 games I will buy!
Well, it's a great little machine—not perfect but solid—with a bunch of pretty great games at this point too, so I'm not entirely surprised it's still doing well. But, let's just hope Nintendo continues to give it the proper love and attention it deserves once the Switch it is out (and after that too)—less it ends up being another popular console Nintendo drops like a bomb after it's handful of years in the limelight (unlike Sony for example, which usually goes on to show support for its popular consoles for around ten years on average; not necessarily in terms of putting out first party games but just in terms of keep them alive and healthy so gamers can enjoy third party support for longer and really get the most out of their system).
Cant wait for Fire Emblem Echoes, Dragonball Fusions and Ever Oasis!
Great job, Pokemon Sun and Moon! (But the lazy SMM 3DS cash grab SHOULD NOT have sold a million copies; it encourages that kind of behavior from Nintendo!)
I'd personally still hope Nintendo lavish - people like myself - who invested in upgrading to the New 3DS in the hope of more than half a dozen (max) games which utilise it's increased specs, not just ports and VC games.
Handheld games are typically designed to be easy to pick up and play for just a few minutes at a time over a long period... often making use of a sleep function in order to do so... but the Switch's limited battery makes it unsuitable for this.
The Switch is designed for games that you would typically spend longer periods of time playing without interruption, which are typically exclusive to home consoles.
At best you could call the Switch a portable home console, but you can't really call it a handheld console... so don't expect to see many handheld exclusives released on the system.
Someone here said that Sun/Moon would never beat X&Y in sales. Whilst it still is approx 2 million behind I'd say it's perhaps in the realm of possibility. And even if it doesn't it's still amazing sales figures. I may buy a copy some day.
I'm hoping that there will be one last big first party release on 3DS this holiday season. My money would be on New Super Mario Bros 3. After that, I suspect that Nintendo will leave third parties to support the 3DS while they focus their own development talent on the Switch.
Is Pokemon the best selling game of the year?
The 3DS deserves all the love it gets. I think it might have even surpassed the NES in sales figures.
It's my favourite console ever.
I think the 3DS deserves this, it's a great little system with many many great games.
@sillygostly Sun and Moon is already downport from Switch based hardware...
The 3DS is my favorite Nintendo console and my most played system too. I'm glad to see that this six year old train still has wheels.
@thesilverbrick I'm not so sure it sold better than the Wii U version of the game.
A check on vgchartz is showing that the Wii U version of the game has outsold the portable version both in Japan and globally (with global sales being almost double that of the 3DS sales)
It would need to sell another 1.6 million copies or so to beat out the Wii U version's sales.
Wii U: http://www.vgchartz.com/game/82961/super-mario-maker/
3DS: http://www.vgchartz.com/game/132798/super-mario-maker/
@LegendOfPokemon Well the Wii U version of the game sold almost double that of the 3DS, and the 3DS has a much bigger base. Any competent marketing team would realize that the Wii U version actually sold better, if using a proportional comparison. Profitability however, is most likely much higher for the 3DS version though since it's a watered down port.
EDIT: Adding links
@Ernest_The_Crab : Yeah, there's no way that the 3DS version sold more copies than the Wii U version. The Wii U version was advertised a lot more and received a lot more fanfare. Plus, there's the fact that it came bundled with an artbook and amiibo which made it an even more tantalising value proposition.
Yes, the 3DS has a stronger user base, and perhaps the 3DS version may outsell the Wii U version in time, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Keep the games coming and we'll keep buying them. Simple as that
The 3ds has been a great machine. I have been very loyal to Sony, and jumped on the vita bandwagon, but bought a 3ds a year later and willl admit, I played it more in a year than I played the vita period.
I'm torn, I love the rpgs and niche games on the 3ds, but I worry that the success of the 3ds will lead to games going there instead of the Switch. And I personally want as much rpg goodness to play on my switch as possible. Is it possible for both consoles to succeed and developers to make games for both?
Just want to point out that Sun and Moon sold in a month and a half what XY did In in two and a half years.
It's going to be the best selling Pokemon game since diamond/pearl. Might even outsell gold and silver(at 23 million.)
@sillygostly
Probably like a hugely graphically polished Colosseum.
You heard it here first, folks.
@Rumncoke25
I share your system success concern. I think a lot of people do, actually. Hopefully it will all work out in the end, though.
Buddy, I'm feeling the Switch will be a very popular machine for RPG games. Don't ask me how, I just know it. So, don't worry, you will get plenty of RPG goodness.
I see the majority of people on here want the 3DS to continue to be supported after the Switch comes out. I feel the same way. I don't see why it can't continue to be supported for a long length of time. The original gameboy was supported for roughly ten years and was vastly underpowered compared to the home consoles that were around.
I'm glad Super Mario Maker 3ds had some success, it is a fun game for on the go.
I have no doubt that once Switch gets all the games of the handheld division it will smell at hotcakes around here and in Nintendo offices.
This is still amazing considering that the portable gaming space is dominated by smart phones. My standard red 3DS still has plenty of life left, though I would love to update to a New variant at some point.
@Nintendofan83 3+ months? The game has been out for just over 2 months and the period of sales for the game covered here (from its release on November 18th to December 31st) isn't even a full month and a half.
It did this much in roughly a month and a half. I am pretty sure this would be one of the single fastest selling single platform games of all time. Like top 5 fast.
Yes, but AAA etc etc etc....
This lil machine just keeps on giving. I don't own one but I'm impressed!
Happened to our family. We were crazy about Pokémon GO for awhile and it ended in a Xmas New 3DS purchase for the family and Sun for one child and Moon for the other. (And some stuffed Evee evolutions, plush Dedenne, and a pile of little pokemon toys ) Also, Metroid Federation Force which has gotten more play than Pokémon from my son and I. But it really started with Pokémon GO.
I do wonder if Super Mario Run will have any type of similar effect, though. It could be argued that interest was piqued even in those who didn't shell out the $10. Some of those players may still have their Mario-itch needing to be scratched in a more traditional game. It could also be argued that half the price might have gained another 5% and gotten Kimishima's desired double digits (but exact same profit) and more importantly way more players interested in Mario again.
@Ernest_The_Crab That's good news, then. I'm glad the version with more content sold more, and on a console with a pathetic install base, for that matter. Hopefully Nintendo takes a hint. If the 3DS version had the same features as the Wii U version, I would have double-dipped.
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