Wii Fit muscles to top of UK charts

Nintendo's exercise-based game leaves the competition for dead as it assumes the top position.

2008 is shaping up to be a very healthy year indeed for Nintendo. The company recently announced record financial results, and saw Mario Kart Wii race to the top of the charts after its recent European release. Today, Nintendo has seen its latest product, Wii Fit, not just hit the top of the UK's all-formats sales chart, but also become the sixth-fastest-selling games debut ever in the country.

Wii Fit is the latest extension of Nintendo's strategy to target the mass market, following DS games such as Brain Training (Brain Age in the US) and Sight Training (Flash Focus in the US). Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto told The Sunday Times recently that, "People say video games are a waste of time and are bad for your brain and for your health. We wanted to create something to answer that." Wii Fit, using the new, included balance-board peripheral, tracks each player's weight, and provides a multitude of activities designed to be a part of a daily exercise regime.

Despite the hype surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 today, Wii Fit has racked up impressive sales in the four days since its UK release. According to UK sales body Chart-Track, Wii Fit was bought by 10 percent of Wii owners, and accounted for over half of the Wii software sold in the past week. Its UK takings of £16.3 million make it the third-largest game launch by value, behind only Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2004 and Halo 3 last year. Whether Wii Fit can hold on to the top spot in the face of GTAIV will be revealed in next week's chart.

29 Comments

  • Nomad0404

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:34 pm PT

    It can't hold on because there aren't any to buy! Everywhere has sold out.

  • Zeeknyne

    Posted May 1, 2008 8:13 am PT

    I think wii fit will do fine here in the US as well, really looking forward to it's release.

    But yeah, GTA4 will take it's UK spot most likely, there is just a good amount of hype following it, plus it's a quality game.

  • MrAntwerp

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 5:23 pm PT

    Couldn't find one anywhere in Belgium. Totally sold out!

  • The_Warhammer

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    It's just to bad the Wii Fit isn't release until May 21 in North America, I personally don't like GTA series. But im sure the Wii Fit once hits in NA it will sell out within the week of the release.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 8:47 am PT

    It will be impressive to see how GTA4 sales compare to Wii Fit sales. It will be like, the gamer vs. the non-gamer. I look forward to the results.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 8:43 am PT

    Bought the game on launch day, have been exercising daily, I ache all over! It has such incredible variety in the exercises, is incredible fun and is great motivation to exercise. I've been saying "I'll start exercising again" for months now but Wii Fit has really given me the push that I needed and I can feel it paying off each day. I can see this wont be popular with fat gamers but I can understand that. It was meant for normal people to incoporate into their lives, not for gamers to complete.

  • mhult

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 7:27 am PT

    I got Wii Fit on launch day last Friday, and I must say I'm really impressed with the quality of the product. The balance board is a solid piece of hardware, and they put a lot of effort into the software. I did not expect it to be so feature rich. I do yoga exercises every morning!

    There is nothing casual about Wii Fit. This is hardcore. Different audience maybe, but definitely hardcore.

  • crimped

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 6:16 am PT

    my wife doesn't like video games but she wanted a wii fit for her birthday! it isn't my type of game but the yoga looks good and the sking mit be fun.

  • wiifan001

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    Wii Fit might be possibly out sell the so called perfect "Grand Theft Auto 4.

  • roll450

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    Im Really suprised Wii fit is actually that good. So this can appeal to everyone. Even I'm going to get this seeing that it sold really well in Europe.

  • Jigglesbig

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    £16.3 Million? Wow. I mean, yeah, you could argue it only took that much in because each copy is £70 (with a balance board), but by my calculations, thats still about 2.33 million copies sold of Wii Fit.

    Also, it being the 6th fastest game will bump Mario Kart Wii to 9th fastest selling game.

    Of course, after this week, GTA4 will be the fastest selling, which will bump Wii Fit to 7th, and Mario Kart Wii to 10th.

    Anyone else notice how weird it is 3 of UK's fastest selling games were released not only in the same month, but within 3 and a half weeks of each other?

  • flawless_blade

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    Okay, with GTA4 being one of the most anticipated games this year (or maybe even... ever) it will almost unfailingly become more popular than Wii Fit by the end or the week.
    Um... out of curiosity, did they release Wii Fit over here in the US? I haven't heard anything about it.

  • MatthewNintendo

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    It's crazy it's sold out absolutely everywhere. There were people asking for it in every shop I went into. It would have been really interesting to see how many could of sold if nintendo had anticipated such a high demand. But still yep GTAIV will take the top spot next week, but congrates nintendo you did really well the last three weeks with MKW and wii fit.

  • blinkysam

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    Im guessing ctg867 isnt a big fan of exercise lol... and having fun for that matter.

  • ctg867 posted Apr 29, 2008 12:48 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    ctg867

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 12:48 pm PT (hide)

    Pa-****ing-thetic. Cannot believe this game is hitting top of the charts everywhere. It in no way deserves any of it's success. Crappy casual crap. If you wanna make a game targeted at the casual, at least make it quality.

  • reethe

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 11:59 am PT

    Nice. Good to see that it's becoming popular outside of Japan, too.

  • playmemike01

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 11:29 am PT

    Wii Fit, prepare to be clobbered by GTA IV!

  • chocolate1325

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 10:31 am PT

    GTA4 will be number next week. I am fairly confident.

  • infestedcyborg1

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 9:49 am PT

    I really dont see this being Number 1 for long, GTA4 is selling like crazy. Been selling them since the late night launch i done lastnight, the amount of copys that have sold in Game is crazy. GTA4 will be top very soon.

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 9:45 am PT

    Looks like it'll either be the brilliant GTA4 taking the number one spot next week or the casual, healthy, mass-market non-game keeping a steady lead. It's hardcore versus casual in the biggest way possible (and Wii vs. PS360 in a way as well).

  • d3vilg0d

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 9:18 am PT

    @foxpro lol,you never know nintendo might help fight obesity.Imagine a stereotypical over-weight WOW player using wii-fit.

    This user app will most likely beat GTA IV.Its a shame though no develop wants to invest long term in the wii while ps360 get million dollar long term deals.hopefully we will see some nice wii titles in e3.

  • foxpro-gt posted Apr 29, 2008 8:14 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    foxpro-gt

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 8:14 am PT (hide)

    wii fit will fail in the u.s.

  • zoe256

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:48 am PT

    Yey, Wii Fit rocks! It blatently won't be able to compete with GTA, but it's still done really well.

  • u8nogard

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:46 am PT

    Interesting information. Look forward to future development.

  • Wakasenshi

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:33 am PT

    Mii fit with out Wii fit. If they is some other games coming out for it. I might get Wii Fit...

  • Eloy

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:07 am PT

    Great! I didn't expect less from Wii fit...however, I rcognize the great work in GTA 4...it's kinda sad not have it on Wii

  • hoppie

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:52 am PT

    GTA'll pound it but still, impressive stuff from Ninty, especially considering the heightened price.

  • Tudio

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:50 am PT

    yay nintendo, but GTA IV will take the top spot of course

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