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Nintendo's 3DS/New 3DS Beats Xbox One and PS4 for February Hardware Sales

In a surprise upset, Nintendo's family of 3DS consoles took the top-selling hardware spot for February, beating out PS4 and Xbox One in the US according to NPD.

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Feburary was a good month for Nintendo. With the launch of the New 3DS XL, Nintendo's latest version of the 3DS, Nintendo's handheld family (which encompasses both the 3DS, 3DS XL, and New 3DS XL) has become the best-selling piece of hardware for February in the US. Nintendo wrote in a statement, "The one-two-three punch of New Nintendo 3DS XL, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate helped Nintendo 3DS become the top-selling hardware platform in the United States in February."

The New 3DS XL isn't just being propped up by sales of the earlier hardware either. Nintendo noted that the 3DS family has sold 395,000 units in the US so far, and "the great majority of these sales were New Nintendo 3DS XL systems, which sold 130 percent more units in its initial frame than Nintendo 3DS XL did when it launched."

And sales continue to escalate; Nintendo wrote: "Through the first two months of 2015, sales of Nintendo 3DS hardware have increased by more than 90 percent over sales in the same period in 2014." The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask was the top-selling title for February as well, cementing Nintendo's strong handheld performance. We'll have the full list of NPD best-sellers available shortly.

On the home console front, Sony's PlayStation 4 is continuing to go strong. Following its spot as the number one console in the US for January and the announcement of over 20 million console sales, the PS4 is also the highest-selling home console in the US for February.

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Sony also wrote, "Demand for PlayStation 4 remains incredibly strong in the U.S. as it was number one in hardware and software sales in February according to the latest NPD report. PS4 remains the cumulative leader in hardware sales with more than 20.2 million units sold to consumers worldwide demonstrating the fastest growth in PlayStation hardware history."

While the messaging from Sony and Nintendo sounds conflicting, a Sony representative clarified to GameSpot that its statistic refers to home console sales.

From Microsoft, the company noted that the Xbox One had "record February sales in the US ... and 84 percent more consoles sold compared to January 2015." And Nintendo's Wii U sales "have increased by more than 20 percent over sales in the same period in 2014," according to Nintendo. Another impressive statistic the company revealed: "Life-to-date sales of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Amiibo have surpassed 1.5 million total units and 3.5 million figures, respectively, an attach rate of nearly 2.5 amiibo figures per game unit sold."

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Samslayer

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I'm still rocking my DS Lite, there is so much content on these handhelds I don't know if I could get through it all. I know I'm missing a ton of great games, but I'm still very much enjoying my DS Lite.

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InYourMouf

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Good news. I just bought a "old" 3DS XL. I love the Zelda games (A Link Between Worlds was FANTASTIC) and I aim to play the Mario 3DS titles, but I'm hoping we see some more third party developers contributing to the system. Definitely lacking in M-rated games (as usual with Nintendo).

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mappyislove

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I actually just got my Regular 3DS(at a VERY-VERY cheap price) last week I'm hoping to get my N3DS before the year ends, but I'm happy for this news, I just want devs to make more games for the system.

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OneStrong2

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Either a lack of new intellectual properties, or most have already bought either a one or a PS4.

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jflkdjs

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This is expected and not surprise at all, because the new "New 3DS" just launched in February so it should outsell every other piece of hardware out there, especially with Nintendo's deliberately causing hype with all their releases and the stock shortages of their products, it's only natural that every Nintendo fans is going to rush to buy one of these before they sell out. Nintendo should thank Scalpers for their great sales lately :P

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blackace

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I got my 3DS Xl. Can't play it until I get my laptop fixed. I want to move my data from my old 3DS to the new one. Hopefully within the next 2 weeks.

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larkan511

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Truly sad how many people break their necks to buy these handhelds that get "upgraded" every couple years or so.

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SeriousGaming

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Most of the "upgrades" are unnecessary considering most games work perfectly well on any version. If you bought a 3DS in 2011 and it's not broken it will still play fine.

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Segmented_Odin

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I...what? You have to do that with consoles and PCs too. You are trying to make a point but failing at it, badly.

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jflkdjs

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Actually, he has a valid point there. Consoles last for very long, like between 7 to 10 years with slight redesigns to be more efficient and cheaper. But hanhelds, especially Nintendo ones get redesigned and upgraded every couple of years, bringing upgraded necessary features that the original model lacked.

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ggregd

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"Dance, minions! DANCE!"

- Slappy McBaittitle

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sonicblast19

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So now the New 3DS takes PS4's place at winning absolutely nothing,but I will just say this random thing:"New 3DS wins this time"

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eva02langley

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I am waiting for the Limited Edition Fire Emblem one before buying it.

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eva02langley

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Made 500$ of profit on ebay, thanks Nintendo...

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Thanatos2k

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Why wouldn't it? It's new.

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Sales of anything new are highest at first.

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deactivated-583276a1d2d91

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It is not surprising that new-just-released hardware beats old hardware... I mean it was the 3ds release month... just give it 2 or 3 months and the 2 big console will take over the throne again

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Avatar image for eva02langley
eva02langley

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<< LINK REMOVED >> It's the 3DS... the consoles cannot even dream to be close in sales.

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Bread_or_Decide

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I won't upgrade my 3DSXL unless this thing gets a must own exclusive. I tried out the system at gamestop yesterday and I wasn't crazy about that analog nub thing. The 3D effect finally works though and the placement of all the buttons, start, select, and volume make more sense and are more responsive.

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adwerk

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<< LINK REMOVED >> The c-stick sucks but its better then nothing. I dont know how people could play ex. monster hunter without it or the circlepadpro.

I never had a nintendo product let alone 3ds, but with so many title in its catalog it feelt like a surefire buy. The 3d effect also works really well now.


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DaDLM

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Because you get used to it and it's not that hard.

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SandFox80

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I don't understand why anyone cares how many consoles each company is selling?... Unless you're a shareholder.

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> As a gamer you should be very concerned. When one console establishes a market share advantage, developers are more likely to make games for it. Conversely, consoles with low market share have fewer games made for them.


Unless you own all consoles, this should be quite relevant to you.

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freedom01

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freedom01  Moderator

<< LINK REMOVED >> mostly because the more sales a console has, the more support it will get from third parties

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >> when a console sells more, many thing can happen, or not happen.

titanfall 2 will be on ps4 (not that i care) meaning less exclusives will go to the console with less sales.

devs are more likely to cater to a console that is outselling the competition,

more money for better exclusives.


in the end the best part.... bragging rights, there is a war brewing.... sucks to be on the losing side.


doesn't it?

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sonicblast19

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah,there are lot more remasters on PS4..totally worth 400 dollars to replay the same games.

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Mirimon78

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Remaster>emulation or poor porting.

Remeber the xbox 360? Of all of the titles it currently has in its library, half were ported, emulated titles from the original xbox...

You also cast aside the fact that you arw not the only consumer... there are millions of new gamers every year yet to cut their teeth on titles we got to enjoy before their time. Just because they arw from the past, it doesn't mean they have no value.

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sonicblast19

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Games released at the same time on all platforms or at least at launch,not remasters of 1-2 years old games.

and the whole..maybe people haven't played some games,you know as well as I do that is utter bullshit.

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benelori

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

No it's not bullshit...there are some exclusive titles that were remade that I'd like to try out eventually...

This is not just about new gamers, but also players who never got to expand to other platforms, but they are tempted to do now in this gen

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Mirimon78

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Really.. millions of new gamers every year is bs? If it ry was bs, they wouldn't sell, and these companies would stop making them because of that, but they don't because they do sell because people want them. A remaster isn't the same game, it is generally more or better in some way.

This is hardly the first console to do this.. see:preety much everything from 4th gen on.

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Balrogbane

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Well if you're looking at it from a most recent content standpoint, it should win last month.

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rennanvale

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It's so hilarius how Sony fanboys are trying hard to say that N3DS is not a console. Pathetic.

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deactivated-583276a1d2d91

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Consoles: Wii u, XBone, PS4. Handhelds: Vita, 3ds and the 43675632 versions of it. Mobile: Phones and tablets

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >> it's a console?

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elheber

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It's a portable console. It's why Sony had to clarify the PS4 was the best selling _home_ console.

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normanislost

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Yeah because your comment doesn't make you look as pathetic....

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deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6

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Yo, its a handheld, not the same.Should say beats Vita and the other half dozen Nintendo handheld's.

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Metallinatus

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<< LINK REMOVED >>And every single other gaming machine in existence.... but it was almost a good try ;)

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deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Correct, different category. Unless they are lumping them all together now.

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GandoSpot

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in that sense iPhone is the best selling console for the month of February lol.

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Metallinatus

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<< LINK REMOVED >> In your sense PS4 is the best selling PC in the month of February and Wii U is the best selling home console in that month lol.

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sonicblast19

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> He's kinda right.LOL

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