DSi sales surpass 535K in Japan

Famitsu reports second redesign of Nintendo's popular portable enjoys strong says in first month on market.

Only a few days out, and it was clear that demand for the Nintendo DSi would be strong in Japan. Launched in the island nation on November 1, the second redesign for Nintendo's current-gen portable gaming device sold 170,779 units in its first 48 hours on the market, according to Famitsu publisher and Japanese stat-tracking organization Enterbrain. As noted by the media company in early November, retailers sold through their initial shipments of the ¥18,900 ($179) device within minutes.

It's watching you...

Today, Enterbrain reassessed the DSi's position after one month on the market, and apparently, sales have continued their brisk pace. Enterbrain reports that Nintendo's latest handheld moved 535,379 units in the month following its debut. In all, the Nintendo DS, the DS Lite, and the DSi have combined to sell more than 24.2 million units in Japan, a healthy chunk of the global tally of 84.3 million units Nintendo announced in October.

Officially revealed at the beginning of October, the Nintendo DSi is the third iteration of the hardware maker's popular portable, which was first rolled out in 2004. The new model sports a Web browser, music playback, an SD card multimedia storage, a 3-megapixel camera, a smaller inward-facing camera, and photo editing software, as well as larger and brighter dual screens. The new functionality comes at the expense of the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot, which is absent altogether.

According to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, the DSi won't find its way onto North American store shelves until well into 2009 due to unflagging demand of the DS Lite.

59 Comments

  • drealar

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 10:48 pm PT

    @PrinceofSarcasm

    No can do man. They will always favor Japan release coz 1) They love their local public and always wanna give em special privilege over other people. 2) They wanna test their local market response first, why? coz Japan are the craziest people when it comes to games. Yes, we too are crazy about games but if you've been to Japan for at least 5 month, then you'll get what I mean.

    Btw already bought mine here in Akihabara. Yup, I'm here for a business trip for a month ^^.

  • StarlightHunter

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 9:53 am PT

    no way, what you need is a pip-boy 3000. that thing can hack anything and even activate simulation pods which lead to chinese infested mountains.

  • PrinceofSarcasm

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 7:51 pm PT

    I wish sony and nintendo were more like Microsoft and did global realses instead off favoring japan.

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:07 am PT

    I'm getting this and PSP-3000, BUT Wii ALL KNOW THAT THE DSi are BETTER by miles!!!!! This is the key and will thrash the PSP's EVEN MORE! With this, it can actually outsell the GB (already outsold GBA) and PS1 and PS2.!!!!

  • necronaux

    Posted Dec 5, 2008 10:28 am PT

    I just got a DS. I'm not likely to buy the DSi when it comes out.

  • bassdark25

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 6:54 pm PT

    People these days never bother try to find out if a new hand held system is going to come out. Son: I want a DS for Christmas!
    Mother: Another one?!
    Son: That one broke, please mommy!
    Mother: Okay. *Goes and buys a DS, stupidly.)
    *When DSi is released-US.*
    Son: I want that!
    Mother: You already have one!
    Son: But mommy-I WANT THAT ONE!
    Mother:....
    Either the mother will act smart enough and not listen to him or just be plane stupid and say "Okay."

  • trw534

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 6:54 pm PT

    sounds cool but i have a ds from when they first came out. and i like it.

  • joey_bulky

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    Even with its anti-piracy feature against R4. It sell well. Guess, Sony must be sucking its toe, green with envy!!! hahaha... such sweetness!! I buy every DS original game i want.

    PSP fanboy please buy at least 1 original game to save your platform.

  • OmegaCookie7

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 5:53 pm PT

    Wow, it's selling like mad!

  • Nintend0-BuDDy

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 5:01 pm PT

    wow, this is showing that the North American launch of the DSi will be super hyped up. Oh no.

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 3:08 pm PT

    @shadowblade99
    Seriously, how many times are they going to remake this and how many times are people going to fall for it? .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

    Easy: Every time the current DS version starts to show a lower selling basis, a new redesign will be presented. And every time a new redesign gets out every DS freak will buy the new one (even if they have already 2 or 3 DS)

    I would like to know the total number of games sold for DS in 2008 (compared with the same data for PSP)

  • xatman911

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 1:01 pm PT

    PSP will be a killer ones they add the missing analogue stick... for now DSi is very good.

  • King_Chozo

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 12:53 pm PT

    Everyone in Japan is going to have 3 DS's now, lol. Seriously, every version has sold to a ridiculous degree there.

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 12:39 pm PT

    OH wow...

    i hope it gets here soon...i want one...but i most likely wait for more colors or a good special edition, just like i did with my Ds


    what i want now is Pokemon Platinum....... and a remake of Gold&Silver

  • sebetai

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 11:14 am PT

    analusts said the dsi wouldn't sell that well. show's what they know. this is most likely the last version of the ds. the gameboy advance had three versions. maybe there will be a fourth but i wouldn't see it until late 2010 or 2011. i would say the next gen of nintendo handhelds will begin in 2012 and the next console about 2 or 3 years later.

  • ItsEvolution

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 10:49 am PT

    Shinigami, Guitar Hero might not be as good on the DS, but you can't deny how many copies have sold. How many other games had a sequel come out only months later, because of the sales of the first?

    Also, I've been modded before for saying "retarded". Just an FYI.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 10:16 am PT

    i wonder if microsoft will make a handheld

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 10:12 am PT

    What Nintendo needs to do is make a new handheld, not a re-make. (which is probably what they're working on now anyway)

  • josef8 posted Dec 3, 2008 8:39 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    josef8

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 8:39 am PT (hide)

    ridiculous

  • daabulls23

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 7:44 am PT

    I think many people will buy the DSi for its multimedia capabilities, which is a nice add-on. However, why did it take them so long for the memory card slot to be added? It should have been on at least on the Lite.

  • FILIPINOMAZTER

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 7:38 am PT

    say what you want people, the DSi is a must have and im getting it

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 7:14 am PT

    I really wish it didn't have multimedia. I know they're competing with PSP and Japanese cell phones (have you seen those things?), but I feel about DSi features the same way I feel about texting on phones and other multitaskers.
    (1) If I don't like it, I'm paying for services/functions I'm not going to use.
    (2) If I do like it, these features eat away battery life that could have gone to playing something (and DSi will NOT have as much batteries as Lite to begin with).

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 7:10 am PT

    Seriously, how many times are they going to remake this and how many times are people going to fall for it?

  • X-RS

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 5:55 am PT

    well id like to get one simply for music.
    i use my psp, but the sticks are bloody expensive compared to sd.
    not to mention good games id want on the ds are hard to find. so well into 09 sucks!

  • jon-o-matic posted Dec 3, 2008 4:31 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jon-o-matic

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 4:31 am PT (hide)

    want it but im going to get the psp300...you people should read about it

  • hengaoxing

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 4:21 am PT

    cool

  • jjrob

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 3:54 am PT

    I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yes!

  • shinigami617

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 12:18 am PT

    Why is everyone crying about the gba slot, seriously. We all know you have a gba or older ds lying around. If Guitar Hero is your excuse, that's just retarded, the game sucks on the ds.

  • neo_412

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 11:44 pm PT

    I'll hold out to get this one.

  • ItsEvolution

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:53 pm PT

    There's no point in bringing the DSi to the US anytime soon. People are still eating up the DS Lite, and people are going to want to keep playing their GBA games. Also, with the HUGE sales of the two Guitar Hero games (that won't work on the DSi), why would Nintendo even bother splitting the market?

  • Assasinnation

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:35 pm PT

    If You Live In Asia Is Much Better They Supplied There First......

  • xdeiri

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:34 pm PT

    i dont know but it seems like ninterndo is the most successful company on earth or what ? and they say recession huh , i say some companies deserve to be banish

  • jasopan

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:33 pm PT

    Whens it out in AU?

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:06 pm PT

    I want a DSi in the U.S.

    @Francision69
    3.0 mega-pixals not 0.3 mega-pixals

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 9:50 pm PT

    i bought a DS Lite just last Febuary. And now im reading this! Oh well thats life..

  • Serraph105

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 9:03 pm PT

    Im not picking this up untill I here that the multimedia is worth it

  • Fareru

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:56 pm PT

    I just bought my DS in September...

    I guess that's what happens to late adaptors...

  • ChibiStewie

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:32 pm PT

    o.o....... woooow O_o ill probably get it when it comes over here >_> this look seven better than a psp O_O XD and music playback? AWESOME SD CARD? AWESOME camera? awesome and INTERNET!? FREAKING PWN!!! so getting it if i wana play GB advance games ill play them on my regular ds XD this is seriously going to be a revulitionary moment in gamimg history! (gaming consoles that is!) i mea....it has a camera on it O_O btw....does this mean that games will be able to be saved on the SD Card? or is it only for pictures

  • greg_g33 posted Dec 2, 2008 8:30 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    greg_g33

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:30 pm PT (hide)

    I have absolutely NO idea why so many people are buying this, but hats off to Nintendo for continuing the butthurt. Let's just hope they start making games worth buying.

  • krystians

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    I cannot wait!

  • Francision69

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:10 pm PT

    I thought the cam only had 0.3-Megapixels?

  • Weddum posted Dec 2, 2008 7:56 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Weddum

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:56 pm PT (hide)

    Its a DS with a poor quality camera, and poor multimedia functions due to hardware limitations of a DS. Why are people even getting excited about this?

  • finaleve

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:53 pm PT

    Honestly...I'll probably pick it up. I get the feeling that its going to be the GBC all over again.

    Game Boy Camera anyone?

  • adrianm14

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:33 pm PT

    No GH OT for dsi?

  • tman978

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:22 pm PT

    I own a GB player, Super GB, a GBA & DS (phat), The gba slot means nothing. I cant wait.

  • OmegaGear

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:52 pm PT

    The unflagging demand of the DSlite? That'll only translate to unflagging demand for the DSi, unless Nintendo is blatantly planning a double dip on unknowing shoppers that get it this holiday season. That's reading between the lines, but it really does sound like that. I'm holding out as long as I can for the DSi, but the itch for Chrono Trigger is strong.

  • irongutvi

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:45 pm PT

    Wow... still keeping my DS Lite. This could be a love it or hate it portable gaming system.

  • helios515

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:26 pm PT

    I'm just really excited for the camera... I think it will be alot of fun.

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