E3 2006: Nintendo boss predicts Wii's sales

Wii News | How many will Nintendo have to make?

A strong performance at the press conference behind them, a controller almost everyone is excited about, and more then likely a price point of less then half Sony's PS3 (some are guessing a third!). Combine this with the totally unprecedented success of the DS, and Nintendo's fortunes for their home consoles are looking up. The reports from the E3 show floor suggest that patrons have flocked to the Wii section, and that even with a more then three hour wait it's by far the most popular attraction at the event.

But will this translate into console sales? Estimates at current sell through for this generation put the PS2 well ahead at 95 million consoles sold, compared to Nintendo's 22 Million Gamecubes (and Microsoft's 23 million Xboxes). Nintendo's userbase and market share in the home console arena have shrunk every generation since 70 odd million NES consoles were sold. Will the Wii continue down this path?

Nintendo president Saturu Iwata does not think so, and has predicted big gains for his company this generation. The numbers? Iwata predicts 40 to 60 million Wii consoles sold worldwide in the coming generation. What this shows us is that Nintendo doesn't seem directly interested in regaining a dominant position, but simply on improving their position. Of course, anything can happen. On one hand, at launch Nintendo predicted 40 million Gamecubes sold. On the other hand, Iwata said they'd be happy if 10% of gamers bought a DS, and yet it has become the fastest selling console in history, even beating out the Gameboy Advance for speed of sales.

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32 Comments

Joseph

6 years ago

David wrote

Nev wrote

What I think is funny is that the DS is outselling the PSP at a margin of, like, 7-1 in Japan at the moment. But if the PSP is only a few million units behind in sales (quote from Nintendo), then doesn't that mean that the PSP must be outselling it in at least several other major territories?

No, the only place the PSP is outselling the DS is the UK, and even then the DS still clings to a slight overall lead because it launched earlier. Everywhere else (including Australia) the DS is well ahead, and is constantly outselling the PSP on a week to week basis.

Basically, the DS is four million ahead in Japan, and about two million ahead in US+Europe+Australia.

You're, joking right?

The DS is outselling the PSP in Australia? Didn't see that coming.

David

6 years ago

^^Yes, the DS is outselling the PSP in Australia, and has been ever since Nintendogs, and pulled way ahead at Christmas with 'Kart and Animal crossing. "Creaming it" was the exact term my contact who works in game distribution.

Infested Jibbs

6 years ago

Why is that so hard to believe shadow?I can count on one hand the number of people i've seen in public with a psp and to do the same with a ds i'd have to have a hand that has about 200 fingers.

Maybe it's just my area, but that's how it goes.

admeister

6 years ago

It's the same for me, David's right, "Creamed" is accurate!

David

6 years ago

Jibbs wrote

Hey, I can totally understand his point - go into EBs and measure how much shelf space the PSP and DS get each. Odds on that UMD movies alone get more shelf then the DS - my EB has GBA and DS squashed together on a pillar, while PSP gets a 3m wide shelf. But it simply has not had an effect on sales.

Also, I've actually seen just as many PSP as and DSes in Sydney City, maybe slighly more DSes, but not many. However, like I said, it's a fact straight from the mouth of a guy that's involved in distributing that it's actually 2:1.

EvilHayama

6 years ago

David wrote

Is it true that this is determined by payment from Sony? i've heard that you can pay to get more or better shelf space for your console and that Nintendo doesn't bother. The only other reason I can think of is that the profit margin on DS stuff is lower than PSP gear.

admeister

6 years ago

I've heard that too, I'm pretty sure its true, I think Nintendo said they weren't going to waste money buying space..

DancesInUnderwear

6 years ago

Nintendo of Australia has money?!

Seems they're shelling out for window space at EB, though - I've seen NSWMB posters and those stupid box thingos (this time in MPH flavouring).

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