New Nintendo 3DS Sales Figures: Around 335K Units Sold In US, Europe

Nintendo is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. The New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL reached Europe and North America on Friday, and the Japan-based gaming company sold around 335,000 units of the devices during their launch weeks in the combined territories, according to Nintendo’s third-quarter financial results briefing that the company released on Tuesday.

In North America, only the New Nintendo 3DS XL launched on Feb. 13. The device was released on Friday at midnight around the country, and both versions of the handheld console were released in Europe.

Approximately 175,000 units were moved in the United States, and 160,000 in Europe. The New Nintendo 3DS launched in October 2014 in Japan, and 230,000 people picked up the device at launch.

“The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” and “Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate” were two of the top-selling titles. “Majora’s Mask 3D” sold around 340,000 copies in North America and 230,000 in Europe.

The New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL devices were announced last August. Both consoles reached Japan in October 2014 and launched in New Zealand and Australia in November 2014. In January, Nintendo announced that the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL would launch in Europe on Feb. 13 but that U.S. consumers would only have access to the New Nintendo 3DS XL on Feb. 13.

The handheld consoles possess a stronger CPU than current models, which will give players quicker download speeds and a swifter browsing session from Nintendo’s eShop online store. The new handhelds also will have built-in near-field communication for the company’s upcoming amiibo toy line. Nintendo also promises gamers improved graphics and microSD card support.