Nintendo 3DS sales lagging older DS models

The flagship Nintendo 3DS handheld console is being outsold two-to-one by old models according to NDP Group data published by Nintendo itself. The Nintendo DSi, DSi XL and DS Lite sold a total of 386,000 units for the month of June. By comparison the 3DS sold only 143,000 units over the same period.

Although the 3DS sold its first 3.5 million consoles world-wide within the first two months of its launch, its recent sales have not been as strong. Just in April, the 3DS was outsold by the six-year old Sony PSP.

Nintendo has been struggling in recent months. Its company profits slumped 66 percent in the financial year to March, while its Wii console has now fallen well behind the current monthly sales of the Microsoft Xbox 360. The company had been hoping that the 3DS, the world’s first 3D glasses-free handheld console, would help to shore up its overall sales.

Nintendo is planning on introducing an all-new game console in the first half of 2012, the Wii U. The successor to the Wii, the new console will have much more powerful graphics and also incorporates an innovative touchscreen controller. The company has also been trying to boost the popularity of the 3DS, recently signing a content deal with Netflix for 2D movie streaming.

With the sales of its older DS consoles remaining strong, Nintendo could be forced to shelve any plans that it may have had of phasing them out in the short to medium term.

By Electronista Staff