Iwata: Wii sales not harming DS

Nintendo president says console not cutting into handheld sales, believes his company might beat earnings targets.

The Wii's strong debut has been a wellspring of recent good news for Nintendo, most recently with a near-sellout in Japan. However, some analysts felt that the "new-gen" console's success would come at the expense of the Mario factory's best-selling DS handheld. The logic was that consumers with limited budgets would have to choose between the two this holiday season.

Such worries do not apparently weigh on the brow of Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's president. "Some analysts say the largest rival of the Wii is the DS," he told the Reuters news service. "But if you take a look at DS sales in the United States in the Thanksgiving week or DS sales in Japan in the week of the Wii launch, there has been little impact."

By the end of its fiscal year on March 31, 2007, Nintendo now believes it will have sold 6 million Wiis and 20 million combined units of the DS and DS Lite. It currently predicts its annual profit will total 145 billion yen (around $1.26 billion), an increase of more than 60 percent, with annual sales rising 45 percent to 740 billion yen (approximately $6.44 billion).

Iwata told Reuters that he believes there's a chance that Nintendo will top its already rosy outlook. "'Confidence' could be too strong a word, but there is an emerging possibility," said Iwata regarding Nintendo beating its forecast. "We had come up with the current earnings forecasts before we sold even a single unit of the Wii and when we were not so sure about the cannibalization effect between the Wii and the DS."

189 Comments

  • MRA1990

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:18 pm PT

    Why don't they ship more f*cking Wii's to Europe I ordered one on the 8th of december when it came out and now I still don't have one!!!!!! :@

  • HYPERROY

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 8:27 pm PT

    Wii is great I already beat Legend of Zelda the T P!! ^_^

  • roll450

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    man cant wait for Super Smash Bros Brawl online ^_^

  • chibirevolution

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 6:05 pm PT

    Arrrgh! I want my Wii ! > Looks like i have to wait until after Christmas... (>.

  • TheGreenGecko

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:29 pm PT

    "Nobody knows better how to be #1 at the videogame market than Nintendo."

    Except Sony of course, being number one at the moment.

    By a few tens of millions.

  • maxgil2

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 1:59 am PT

    This is all good but I hope they do start rolling out the good games for Wii ..more not just few trickle every 3-4 months

  • saugh

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 11:28 am PT

    Thats really good news.

  • vatterott

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 6:47 pm PT

    Yeah Boyz!

  • fantasticlink

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 5:32 pm PT

    Go Nintendo!!!!

  • RaphJam

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    Wii is a different console to DS (contrary to PS2 and PSP). That's why their selling doesn't influence each other's success at all. Nobody knows better how to be #1 at the videogame market than Nintendo.

  • Tigerman950

    Posted Dec 10, 2006 4:55 pm PT

    I'm getting a Wii as soon as it gets back on shelves. Can't wait.

  • datniccah187

    Posted Dec 10, 2006 12:24 pm PT

    I need a Wii asap

  • frankfurter209

    Posted Dec 10, 2006 9:29 am PT

    As long as Nintendo beats Sony, I'm happy.

  • ScionofEntropy

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 7:41 pm PT

    "You know somethings wrong when the manufacturer has to worry and compete with itself. Try not to be a Ninten-lemming and get a 360."

    Try not to make yourself look too foolish now. You missed the point of the article, champ. *Adds to my 'Hall of Fame'.*

  • 1Tasty_Bone

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 9:17 am PT

    I read an article at IGN that said the DS/Lite has sold 7.5 million units through the first 11 months of the year compared to 1.6 million PSP units in the same amount of time. In addition to that, Nintendo reported selling 27 million units of software this year so far compared to Sony's 2-3 million units of software.

    No doubts in anyone's mind about who is running the table here! I guess there will be plenty of competition for Bomberman Land Touch

  • barnold81

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 8:32 am PT

    I'm excited for both systems, but I've bought a ton of DS games this year. There are just so many quality titles for it. And what's better than being able to play video games comfortably in bed? lol I think the DS will be just fine.

  • F1freak660

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 7:45 am PT

    I think 6 million Wii's is going to be huge if Nintendo accomplishes it. The DS and Wii can definitley feed off each other but of course Iwata won't voice any concerns. However, I think Nintendo is in for a good year in any case.

  • ReggieNametaker

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 6:01 am PT

    That's allright for him to say, the smug money grabbing nerfhearder!! (haven't heard that one since empire strikes back )

  • nevereathim

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 5:21 am PT

    You guys are all nintendo fanboys, im a Sony fanboy

  • war9

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    I think this generation of Nintendo consoles will definitely beat Playstation's. Back to Nintendo, back to basics!

  • bubblepaul

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 11:22 pm PT

    i can understand how people may struggle to buy both a DS and Wii. Many people couldnt afford both as well as the games.

    personally i dont have such a problem as i have owned a DS for a year now and the Wii i got yesterday, so no such clash there.

    6 Million Wii sales by end of March that would be a massive accomplishment seeing as how the 360 has sold 8.5million in 1 and a bit years.

    Go NINTENDO

  • dieworm

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 10:05 pm PT

    WOO!! Go PCWii60DS!

  • Undugrownd

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:09 pm PT

    Nitro720, Nintendo thinks that people will choose one or the other. That means one will be successful, the other will fail, and thereby losing money.

  • Nitro720

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 1:20 pm PT

    Why would Wii sells hurt DS sells in the first place.

  • jazilla

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 9:48 am PT

    There has always been a handheld for Nintendo out with a console for Nintendo. Whoever the reporter was for this story needs to do his homework more before he asks a question like this. If I was Iwata, I would have asked him if he had ever heard of the gameboy, or the gameboy advance. Then I would ask him if he had ever heard of the four previous consoles that Nintendo had made.

  • Alosjs

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 9:46 am PT

    im surprised that the Wii didnt sell out completly in Japan

    oh well hurray for Nintendo

    they are doing a great job

    and everyone is liking Nintendo thanks to their good job with games and consoles

  • Cloud737

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:13 am PT

    In my opinion, the Wii doesn`t influence the sale of the DS. One is a console, the other a portable.
    Even if I want a Wii, I still would like to get a DS sometime.

  • Luis612

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:28 pm PT

    i dont have a ds or a wii but man the nintendo games look fun. i have an xbox and really want an xbox 360. but i also wdnt mind having a wii or a ds. i would prefer owning a wii over the ps3. sony lies toooooooooooo much and they are full of crap. at least microsoft and nintendo keep their promices.

  • chrisp1

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    When we start seeing Wii games that make good use of the DS I think we will also see another jump in DS sales. They come and go in bursts. The DS lite, superior in every way to the DS, launched at just over half the price of a PSP. I don't think people will have a hard time throwing down the money later on.

  • Newsboy

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:38 pm PT

    ou know a console is gold when your dad won't stop bowling!

  • ardandil

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:37 pm PT

    i getting a wii and a ds lite this holiday, does that say somenthing to you?

  • lithus

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:58 pm PT

    You know somethings wrong when the manufacturer has to worry and compete with itself. Try not to be a Ninten-lemming and get a 360.

  • osxgp

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 7:39 pm PT

    I'm proud of Nintendo for doing so well. I'll admit that I thought Nintendo was going to have trouble selling the Wii, but the buzz about it is terrific. I hope that they can keep up their good times because Sony needs to realize that they are not the best in the buisiness. Yeah they may have the most powerful system with Blu-Ray (that no one really cares about) but power doesn't sell a system. The only buzz about the PS3 I hear is how people want to sell it on eBay. I myself hate those people because they are the ones that ruin system launches for gamers. They are no better than sexual predators.

  • diesony

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 7:15 pm PT

    go Nintendo

  • dragg0n

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 5:22 pm PT

    Go Nintendo. The big N is going to be a force to reckon with this time 'round.

  • snakenamedjoe

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    All the Wall Marts in my area got 200 Wii's each last Friday. There were huge lines, bigger than on the launch day. They all sold out in minutes. Luckilly I got my Wii on the launch date.

    I hear people talking about buying Wii's everywhere I go. Old men who've never played a video game in their lives are trying to get the things. Sounds like Nintendo's strategy to attract the non gamer has worked.

    With all the support the system is getting form people who are not normally video game fans, 6 million by March seems pretty reasonable to me.

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 4:28 pm PT

    xeidog69
    I live in Ar-kansas, too. I haven't been able to get one becaus I've been job hunting but I heard from ITT that it's almost impossible to get one here. As soon as a shipment comes, it's gone in minutes! Now that's high Demand!

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 4:19 pm PT

    Yeaah, boyyy! DSWii!!

  • mgsninja

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    Good for Nintendo.

  • virtuadc

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:49 pm PT

    6 Million by march? Thats a confident forcast alright. I wish them luck, can't wait for Mario.

  • virtuadc

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    6 Million by march? Thats a confident forcast alright. I wish them luck, can't wait for Mario.

  • jhonnyboi1134

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    cant wait to get my DS lite for Christmas. Good job Nintendo

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:03 pm PT

    Trogeton
    Well yeah, they are kinda close in price range... how wood they.. they dont have to produce any high tech chips. other wise they would have a larger price.. and of course.. at the price they are and at the amount of money is costs to make them, they should have had waaaaay more released on the release date... how fricken cheap could they get...--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Why u say?! Because Nintendo is smart that's why. It's not all about graphics and high-tech chips my friend. Hey, Sony could've done the same too if they wanted so don't go crying bloody murder at Nintendo just because Sony thought graphics was everything.

  • LoWpS

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 12:59 pm PT

    "cannibalization" lol
    nah, the DS is still gonna sell just like it has been, like water to men on fire.

  • undox

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:26 am PT

    Consoles and portables are two different markets. Of course the DS will not suffer. In fact, because of the Wii, the DS may get even more sales. This may the way for Nintendo to get back on top.

  • Alik

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:22 am PT

    this is an odd story considering Gamespot had a headline lastweek stating that the wii was in fact sold out...... strange indeed

  • Trogeton

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:19 am PT

    Well yeah, they are kinda close in price range... how wood they.. they dont have to produce any high tech chips. other wise they would have a larger price.. and of course.. at the price they are and at the amount of money is costs to make them, they should have had waaaaay more released on the release date... how fricken cheap could they get... if the ps3 or the 360 would have been that price they would have had even more console out on there release... they are just being stiff

  • GKBeetle

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:53 am PT

    mr_squibble
    The 20 million DS sales number is just a prediction for this fiscal year. Remember that the DS has been out since 2004, meaning that total sales of the DS and DS Lite since 2004 have been well over 20 million units.

    6 million Wiis by March 31 seems like a bit of a stretch, but given this is a world-wide number and the Wii has not launched in Europe yet, it could certainly happen. Nintendo seems to be keeping Wii production up and is giving a steady stream of new product to retailers. And, I do not think any of us fully appreciate how popular the Wii will be in Japan.
    - -+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+--+=+-
    Are you kidding? In my area, no stores have gotten any new Wiis since a few days after they came out. At least, that is what they keep telling me. I hate Nintendo for not delivering a Wii to me!

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