Nintendo DS on the Move in Japan

As 1.4 million units shipped Stateside.

After conquering North America three weeks ago, the Japanese launch of the Nintendo DS has been just as successful.

The handheld had a good first week in Japan - selling just under half-a-million units, with the rest of the available units awaiting unclaimed pre-orders.

This mirrors the first-week performance of the Nintendo DS in the US, where the dual-screen handheld also shifted its first batch of half-a-million units without a hitch. The Nintendo DS has since gone on to sell 700,000 units in North America.

With Christmas fast approaching, the Nintendo DS is sure to be in demand and Nintendo has assured gamers and parents that it is doing its best to meet the challenge.

Production has been increased and Nintendo now plans to have 1.4 million Nintendo DSs available in North America by the end of the year.

The company had previously promised that there would be a total of 2 million Nintendo DSs available worldwide by the end of the year, and it estimates that global sales should hit 5 million by the end of March.

These healthy sales estimates are about to face their biggest challenge yet, though, as Sony is set to release the PSP in Japan on 12 December.

Sony has done a good job of hyping its handheld, with the rumours of low initial shipping numbers leading to panic as gamers prepare to brave the cold to be among the first in the world to savour Sony's new portable machine.

As it stands now, the fate of the Nintendo DS in Europe is still unclear, but Nintendo is expected to ship the handheld here by the end of March 2005.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games