So it seems that suddenly the Nintendo 3DS isn't doing too badly...considering. Nintendo today announced that the 3DS has surpassed the first-year sales of the Nintendo DS within its first 8 months on the market. Good numbers to be sure, but it took quite a bit of work on Nintendo's part to achieve them.

The 3DS experienced a significant price drop within the first 6 months of its life in an attempt to perk up slagging sales.  And, if you remember, some prominent Nintendo executives also took large pay cuts to make up -and in some ways take responsibility- for what was perceived to be a failed product.

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, the man we all love to stare confusingly at, laid it out for Time's Techland in an interview.  "In sales through 8 months, the 3DS has outsold the full 12 months of the original DS. During that 12 months time, the original DS sold 2.37 million and we just surpassed that this past Saturday, so we’ve got real good momentum going into the holidays."

If anything, this is still good news for Nintendo. Strengthening the install base of the product will carry the 3DS a long way once publishers start churning out the big names for the product. And Nintendo is going to need that strength. I'm presuming that the Sony Vita will be giving the 3DS a run for its money.

Comments

  • Avatar
    Kakashi1090
    12 years, 12 months ago

    This is good. Nintendo needed some momentum. What with the Wii getting such horrible reputation and few people looking forward to the Wii U.

  • Avatar
    Dimensaur
    12 years, 12 months ago

    I'm glad to see that things have picked up for the 3DS after the way things started off.

    Also caught a mistake at the end. Should be Sony Vita not Vista.

  • Avatar
    s1yfox
    12 years, 12 months ago

    And here I thought nintendo sales hit the wall :p we'll see how long this will last for

  • Avatar
    WingZero
    12 years, 12 months ago

    Hmmm...Guess the 3DS has some life left....

  • Avatar
    Krikin
    12 years, 12 months ago

    Have to admit, I cracked when I saw the Zelda edition of the 3DS.

  • Avatar
    Comradebearjew
    12 years, 12 months ago

    Good for Nintendo.

  • Avatar
    Iki Iki Tchikiriupow
    12 years, 12 months ago

    Good news for them. Even if I'm not too much into handhelds nor Nintendo anymore.

    (I love your picture of Clint Eastwood!)

  • Avatar
    AdjacentKitten
    12 years, 12 months ago

    Please god, let the Wii U be Nintendo's final attempt at breaking into the console market. I just don't think I can stand any more failures.

  • Avatar
    Breakspeed
    12 years, 12 months ago

    I still think Brad nailed it when he said all the kids will be begging their parents for this with the justification of "Look - it's different and therefore I need it." I'm betting this will see good holiday sales numbers and continue to do well.