When did I say it wasn't?
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3DS hardware sales pass Wii in Japan (Media-Create)
- Thread starter zroid
- Start date
When did I say it wasn't?
Next target : the PSP! Only 7 millions to go... Then it'll be the PS2. I can totally see the 3DS end up around 22-5 millions at the very end (especially if it gets a 3rd model), provided its keeps getting nice line-up and Nitnendo doesn't decided to kill it early.
Could be as early as end of 2014/early 2015 if sales keep going at this pace.
peanutbutterlatte
Member
Oh yeah it's never going to beat DS. DS was the anomaly, sooner people realise that the better. It'll beat the PSP, and maybe the PS2. Second place ain't so bad.
Aquamarine
Member
I thought he meant "digital downloads" as in the downloadable versions of retail titles.
Complaining that Nintendo doesn't include the sales of download-exclusive games is unfair because eShop / WiiWare games are fundamentally less expensive than retail titles, so their total sales are inflated in comparison to a retail environment.
That's why figures like "Angry Birds has sold 12 million copies on smartphones" are misleading.
Besides, I like the fact that Nintendo is comparing software sales from retail games 1:1 with previous generations. If the 3DS can't manage enough sales of retail titles (whether purchased physically or digitally), that speaks to a fundamental problem with its ecosystem.
Dr_Boris_Goltz
Banned
Now briiiiiiiiiiiiing oooooooooooon the Advanced Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaars!
Actually it's pretty clear that the Wii was a massive expansion that will be sorely missed this gen.
Heck even without looking at Wii we're missing something huge like Guitar Hero and that sold a fuckton of perpherals...
peanutbutterlatte
Member
I foresee a Fire Emblem: Awakening styled Advance Wars sequel.
It won't do DS numbers, which is sad because it deserve to. But it will pull of respectable sales. Or at least it should.
dakeedskee
Banned
Is the Wii still being produced?
Aquamarine
Member
Only 210,000 Wii consoles were shipped worldwide to retailers last quarter.
So no, the console is not discontinued per se, but Nintendo is probably offloading existing inventory.
With such low quarterly shipments, I wouldn't bet on them actually manufacturing any more consoles.
The only 7th gen console from Nintendo that's permanently discontinued is the DS in Japan...although it's getting pretty close to being discontinued in the Americas and Europe as well.
Graphics Horse
Member
It's not so long ago they introduced the Wii mini, they're probably hoping to shift them for a while.
Definitely. On the DS there weren't as many titles that interested me even at the end of the gen compared to the 3DS now. They definitely stepped their game up in quality software titles and its only been 2~3 years.
KillerMan91
Member
Third place if you include Gameboy Color sales to Gameboy sales.
But this is the sales results in one particular market.
I'm not saying handhelds are being affected by cellphones but its poor to make a assumption that one market represents the whole world.
I still believe that handheld gaming has definitely downsized alot compared to last gen. Especially with the West, but we have no concrete WW numbers.
That being said, 3DS is definitely flourishing with a great software library and sales in Japan.
DS had a Pokemon game out already, though. Comparing aligned LTDs in a year will be more interesting.
ZedIndyLil
Member
I was always surprised the Wii didn't sell more in Japan. I guess it was caught in the wave towards handheld stuff there.
Maybe. That's a tall order, but depending on how well it does over the holidays (and thanks to Pokémon), we'll have a better idea.
and GBA and every other handheld that isin't the NDS, GB or GBC.
PSP is close to hitting 20 million in japan alone. That is definitely an accomplishment for being ~1million shy of PS2 and just shy a few mill of NES.
Aquamarine
Member
3DS 2011 Year to Date: 1,905,601
3DS 2011 Total: 4,282,142
3DS 2012 Year to Date: 3,181,391
3DS 2012 Total: 5,497,737
3DS 2013 Year to Date: 2,972,851
3DS 2013 Total: (Let's say 5 million for the purposes of argumentation)
Let's suppose the 3DS---barring any future significant changes---sells 5 million a year.
The 3DS is currently 20 million behind the DS. So supposing no significant changes, the 3DS will take four years to outsell the DS.
Two years from now, it should surpass PSP and PS2 if it stays at the same pace.
Q
qizah
Unconfirmed Member
So can we finally put that "3DS is under performing" thing to rest now?
Well we have to see the sales in the west first.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
The 3DS released in Feb 2011. Nintendo handhelds usually last 6 years before the next one comes iirc so the 3DS has 3.5 years left till its successor gets announced (under the above assumption). I can see it getting to PS2 levels but not reaching DS.
2010 YTD for DS was 2.7 and for 2009 it was 3.7 iirc.
TheXfactor
Member
3ds went from 4 million in 2011, to 5 million in 2012, to probably 6 million in 2013. Its rising in popularity and the 2ds has yet to come out, and probably will in 2014. IT all depends on how the 3DS does in its fourth year, because it could reach DS numbers.
The DS was like 5 million, to 8 million, to 7 million, and then it went wayyy down to 4 million and lower. it had an amazing start but couldn't keep up(understandably).
Will see, I predict it will end with like 28 to 32 million.
The DS was like 5 million, to 8 million, to 7 million, and then it went wayyy down to 4 million and lower. it had an amazing start but couldn't keep up(understandably).
Will see, I predict it will end with like 28 to 32 million.
Nope. It's still underperforming.
It actually had a pretty shitty time before the Lite came out. Barely anyone even knew what it was or why they should want one. They managed to turn that around pretty quickly though, it was huge in its second year.
peanutbutterlatte
Member
And so is the Vita. These are the facts.
....holy shit! The Vita is underperforming?!
Why didn't anyone tell me?!
I'd say the 2DS might be the bigger saviour, especially in the west. We'll see.Pokémon save us
Pokémon save us
The unwashed Nintendo masses will look up and shout "Save us!"...and GameFreak will look down and whisper "no".
Aquamarine
Member
This is all relative, of course.
DS's ten lowest weeks before DS Lite came out (Media Create):
Code:
[B][U]NO. SALES YEAR WEEK START END[/U][/B]
[B]10.[/B] 26,761 2005 8 21/02/2005 27/02/2005
[B]09.[/B] 26,583 2005 19 09/05/2005 15/05/2005
[B]08.[/B] 26,537 2005 10 07/03/2005 13/03/2005
[B]07.[/B] 26,205 2005 6 07/02/2005 13/02/2005
[B]06.[/B] 25,759 2005 9 28/02/2005 06/03/2005
[B]05.[/B] 25,321 2006 5 30/01/2006 05/02/2006
[B]04.[/B] 22,446 2005 11 14/03/2005 20/03/2005
[B]03.[/B] 22,363 2005 7 14/02/2005 20/02/2005
[B]02.[/B] 21,698 2005 15 11/04/2005 17/04/2005
[B]01.[/B] 10,223 2006 6 06/02/2006 12/02/2006These figures are wonderful compared to consoles like the Wii U, which is hovering around ~5,000 a week, and Vita, which was above 10,000 a week until recently.
peanutbutterlatte
Member
Graphics Horse
Member
There is no 'usually'
Gameboy
+9 years: Gameboy Color
+2.5 years: GBA
+3.5 years: DS
+4 years: DSi
+3.5 years: 3DS
You can argue about dsi but it added significant functionality.
Sir Alemeth
Member
Doomed.
peanutbutterlatte
Member
Q
qizah
Unconfirmed Member
I don't really see how that is the case. That's always been an odd argument against 3DS sales figures.
How much would "performing" be? I guess using Japan numbers because it's right there.
12 Million currently. What would be performing and what would be "performing well", out of curiosity?
Someone said it's on current pace to surpass the PSP and PS2 at 21.8m (speculation of course because that's far away) but would it be underperforming if it did that?
And there's also the large smartphone market to take into account that wasn't as big before.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
I mean 6 years before the next one is announced. DS launched Nov 2004. 3DS launched feb 2011. 6 years and 4 months. However your right its no usually. Its all over the place.
Has not met Nintendo's expectations means its under performing.
I find Japan's sales interesting since they seem so much more friendly to both handhelds and phones at the same time. Both seem to have much higher appeal there yet coexist fine.
Can't really say the same for consoles though.
I guess we look at the expected performance (Nintendo's sales forecasts) and then see if it sells more than that. It has consistently sold less, even when the forecasts are revised downward. It'll miss the next forecast too. That's before we start comparing it to the DS, or looking at the relatively flaccid software sales.
I don't see how that can be viewed as anything other than underperforming.
Yeah but cell phones though.
I giggled.
3DS is absolutely a disappointment. It's missed sales goals in 2011 and 2012, and sales targets have been revised (down) multiple times.
Passing the Wii (in Japan) isn't really a meaningful metric, it's just sort of interesting. But really it says more about the market for home consoles than it does the success of the 3DS.
Passing the Wii (in Japan) isn't really a meaningful metric, it's just sort of interesting. But really it says more about the market for home consoles than it does the success of the 3DS.
Graphics Horse
Member
I get you, but what we've seen recently is a new design every 1 to 2 years, so I expect them to carry on with that, who knows what they'll come up with after 2DS?
Did Tomb Raider underperform because it didn't reach....goodness knows what they wanted. I could check, but eh. It's sold 4 million, but they expected more.
If Vita or Wii U's forecasts were set at 100K a year, would they be performing well right now?
I don't really mind about forecasts, we have numbers of other systems from past years. If 12 million in Japan is underperforming, what is performing and what is peforming well? As sales followers.
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If you're talking about the software sales compared to Wii, someone else pointed out how the Wii has been out for 7 years and the 3DS 2.5 years, so even though they may have the same hardware sales, Wii owners have been buying games for a lot longer.
Q
qizah
Unconfirmed Member
Considering factors like the changing landscape of handheld gaming (i.e. smartphones), I'd say it's performing fairly well. The market isn't the same as it was when the DS and PSP first entered, dedicated handhelds will obviously lose some of their audience to mobile. However, I think the 3DS definitely shows that a dedicated handheld and smartphones can co-exist.
If you were talking about the Vita, I'd say it's a very different case. The Vita doesn't have to meet PSP numbers, but it's just not selling at a decent pace. It's been lackluster. Whereas the PSP showed that there's obviously an audience that wants that device even if it sold less than the DS. The Vita was going after the same market, which seems to have shrunk entirely.
I get what you're saying, but I can't think of a better objective measure for performance expectations than the manufacturers own forecasts. Otherwise, your frame of reference becomes 'what forum poster #237 feels it should've sold'.
Just software in general. The device has a low-ass attach rate of 3.something.