Iwata: 3DS sales below expectations.

Apparently the 3DS sales was 400k from Nintendo's goal set for the launch.

For Nintendo, 3.61 million just isn't enough. That's the number of 3DS systems sold since launch, and it's approximately 400K short of Nintendo's launch goal, says company head Satoru Iwata. Speaking to investors today in Osaka, Japan, Iwata specifically noted (in an official translation), "Nintendo 3DS started very well but, on the other hand, did not perform as expected after the second week."

Iwata cited the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan earlier this year as a factor, but added, "I should not blame this situation just on the impact of the earthquake. There are other challenges that have shown up." Without being specific, he said that the company is "making efforts to get the popularity of Nintendo 3DS back on track for the upcoming summer season." How about, you know, some games we'd want to play?

LINK

he should be more than happy that DS 1.5 sold that much.

Well it launched without any Mario or Zelda game so it's not surprising. People need reasons to buy the thing and the novelity of the 3D screen just isn't enough by itself.

Nobody wanted to play SFIV for the 10th time. Can't blame them.Captainqwark10

Maybe Mortal Kombat would have helped out sales. ;)

high price and no good games... how did it even sell that much

Barely though. It sold 3.61 million, so that's not too far off.nintendoboy16

high price and no good games... how did it even sell that much

tmgwarrior72

the system is to expensive and has few games. It also does not have all its features ready.

With the lackluster launch it got that is pretty impressive and not too far off. It will pick up the pace once June comes around.

Hopefully there will be some better games by the end of May when I'm out of school.

They should have done more to distinguish it from the four other DS's they released. I don't doubt a lot of people thought: "Oh its just another DS, but with 3D this time." Most consumers don't spend time on gaming message boards going over the details of the hardware... they walk into a store and see "NEW! 3DS!" and its selling feature is 3D and has DS in the name.

if they would add two analog sticks it would sell better +1 device (me)

he should be more than happy that DS 1.5 sold that much.

Harisemo

They should have done more to distinguish it from the four other DS's they released. I don't doubt a lot of people thought: "Oh its just another DS, but with 3D this time." Most consumers don't spend time on gaming message boards going over the details of the hardware... they walk into a store and see "NEW! 3DS!" and its selling feature is 3D and has DS in the name.

foxhound_fox

if after christmas no one buys it then virtual boy confirmed :P

if after christmas no one buys it then virtual boy confirmed :P

KBFloYd

Apparently the 3DS sales was 400k from Nintendo's goal set for the launch.

For Nintendo, 3.61 million just isn't enough. That's the number of 3DS systems sold since launch, and it's approximately 400K short of Nintendo's launch goal, says company head Satoru Iwata. Speaking to investors today in Osaka, Japan, Iwata specifically noted (in an official translation), "Nintendo 3DS started very well but, on the other hand, did not perform as expected after the second week."

Iwata cited the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan earlier this year as a factor, but added, "I should not blame this situation just on the impact of the earthquake. There are other challenges that have shown up." Without being specific, he said that the company is "making efforts to get the popularity of Nintendo 3DS back on track for the upcoming summer season." How about, you know, some games we'd want to play?

LINK

JLF1

The boss finally admits the Truth......:roll::roll::roll:

Now the crickets are cherping.

I seriously want to see how this does after its online features are ready, after it gets its games, and after the holiday season rolls in.charizard1605

Oh your time will come. Coolyfett will assure you of that. Everything you are requesting will happen....wonder what the excuses will be after the fact.

I admire Iwata's bluntness. He was also quite forthright about the Wii performing under expectations lately. You get the impression that Sony or Microsoft would sugercoat the situation regardless of whether their system actually met expectations.

At first glance, I thought the 3DS performed quite well compared to the DS launch - 3.61 million to 2.84 million for the original "phat" DS. But I suppose in comparison to the crazy numbers the DS put up in its heyday, between 2006 and 2009, it is rather low.

I think they are more concerned about the sharp downward trend rather than the initial numbers, which were good.

perhaps a proper launch line-up would have solved that issue.

[QUOTE="charizard1605"]I seriously want to see how this does after its online features are ready, after it gets its games, and after the holiday season rolls in.Coolyfett

Oh your time will come. Coolyfett will assure you of that. Everything you are requesting will happen....wonder what the excuses will be after the fact.

so will yours with psp400...

what are you talking about ds 1.5

the 3ds is 2x as powerful as a ds and can do a tad little more then wii so ya , and those aint bad numbers, they just expected ,key word expected , that dont actually mean it failed drop this subject the 3ds already sold 3.7 million units in the us in 5 days!

I would also say that if Project Cafe really has portable LCD-equipped controllers, as the rumors claim, a big incentive to purchase a 3DS will be lost - at least for me. Or I should say, Project Cafe has definitely made me hesitant to buy a 3DS until I get all the information about the situation.

Not sure what they were expecting. They needed to rush it out there before Sony, but you gotta know you'll take a hit at first when you do that. You can't launch a new Nintendo handheld with a crappy launch lineup alongside a new Pokemon game on the older platform. enterawesome

It's still close to estimates. Not really any games that are worth getting right now anyway. Sales will skyrocket in June when OOT3D comes out.

I admire Iwata's bluntness. He was also quite forthright about the Wii performing under expectations lately. You get the impression that Sony or Microsoft would sugercoat the situation regardless of whether their system actually met expectations.

At first glance, I thought the 3DS performed quite well compared to the DS launch - 3.61 million to 2.84 million for the original "phat" DS. But I suppose in comparison to the crazy numbers the DS put up in its heyday, between 2006 and 2009, it is rather low.

I think they are more concerned about the sharp downward trend rather than the initial numbers, which were good.

SakusEnvoy

Well lets not sweep under the rug that they "overshipped" the 3DS so that there would be enough not to sell out, which was damage control after all the bloggers stated it was not selling. The hottest thing DS related is Pokemon Black, people can play the Pokemon on the 3DS, but it seems people didnt buy the 3ds to play pokemon on it.

People don't want to pay $250 for a headache. That's what MTV is for.Timstuff

yea they pay 600 for them to break down and make you buy it again.

People keep on blaming the price or the launch games but I think thats just bs. Both the original DS and PSP (which was 250) had worse launch title games yet had strong sales even before they had the killer apps. I think 370k is really good, better than any of the ds families however, I think Pachter put it into the best prospective and Nintendo has NOT advertised the 3ds at all. Its very unlike Nintendo, but people simply don't know about it, or think its another DS/family. Im sure this wake up call will make Ninty push the summer harder.

This is what happens when you don't make Zelda a Launch Title.

(see Wii)

I'm more dissapointed in third parties than Nintendo. Once Nintendo brings the cavalry this holliday the 3DS will take off.

I think 370k is really good,

mexicangordo

If your expectations are 4M in one month, not meeting them is not necessarily a bad thing.IronBass

Nobody wanted to play SFIV for the 10th time. Can't blame them.Captainqwark10

Apparently the 3DS sales was 400k from Nintendo's goal set for the launch.

For Nintendo, 3.61 million just isn't enough. That's the number of 3DS systems sold since launch, and it's approximately 400K short of Nintendo's launch goal, says company head Satoru Iwata. Speaking to investors today in Osaka, Japan, Iwata specifically noted (in an official translation), "Nintendo 3DS started very well but, on the other hand, did not perform as expected after the second week."

Iwata cited the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan earlier this year as a factor, but added, "I should not blame this situation just on the impact of the earthquake. There are other challenges that have shown up." Without being specific, he said that the company is "making efforts to get the popularity of Nintendo 3DS back on track for the upcoming summer season." How about, you know, some games we'd want to play?

LINK

JLF1

Well, the high asking price of the DS isn't doing Nintendo any favors. The lack of killer applications and relatively lackluster launch is definitely another problem to rectify.

While, I have no doubt a slew ofNintendo properties (Mario/Zelda/DK/MarioKart/Metroid/Kid Icarus/Kirby/Pokemon) will rectify the 3DS library woes. I firmly believe (ever since the price was announced) the high asking price of the 3DS ($300 in Japan, $250 U.S.) is definitely going to have an negative impact on 3DS sales as parents looking for digital babysitters just won't spring that high.

This high price point launch is unlike the DS, GBA, GBC, and GB pricepoints. It's unlink Nintendo honestly, it's more something we saw with Sony and the PS3. The 3DS is a remarkable little piece of machinery, and has a bright future, no doubt, but this news of 3DS sales below expectations doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Especially when great DS games like Pokemon can be played on the current DS/DS Lite/DSi.