Nintendo certainly got off to a decent start with the new 3DS, proclaiming that it was instantly the best launch for any of its handhelds in history. Initial sales were strong (upwards of 750k in America in 5 days), but analysts are beginning to wonder if the 3D portable has the same kind of staying power as previous Nintendo devices.
A new industry note from Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian points out that 3DS is already slowing down. "Based on our recent checks, we believe that sales of the 3DS have slowed considerably since the initial launch window, although the Easter holiday could provide a near-term boost," he commented.
Sebastian also remarked that Nintendo is likely going to have to make a move to give the Wii, which has been fading, some extra buzz. "Looking further ahead, we believe that Nintendo is likely to consider additional console price/bundle offerings in order to stimulate Wii sales into the summer months," he said.
2 Comments
April 12, 2011
Not a good handheld. Gives you headache and short playing time because of its lousy battery.
April 19, 2011
@Amristar - I disagree - yes the battery is not the greatest thing ever - I will give you that. But I've played with the 3D on for hours without a headache. Not everyone will have issues with headaches with extended play - and if you do, you've got the slider. It's fair to assume that in the future Nintendo will be able to optimize the firmware to extend the battery life beyond its current limits - not a lot mind you, but at least a little.