Following the European launch of the Nintendo DS handheld, the system now counts 3 million units sold worldwide. According to the company, sales in the UK alone have reached 200,000 since the DS's launch in mid-March; the total European sales were not revealed in the Nintendo UK release, but since
500,000 units were sold in that territory in the first two weeks, it's probable that the install base in Europe is on an even footing with that of Japan and the U.S.
The European release of the Nintendo DS has 16 games available so far, with the top sellers being
Super Mario 64 DS and
Wario Ware Touched!. More games are scheduled to come out in May, including
Yoshi Touch & Go,
Need for Speed Underground 2, and
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
"The launch of Nintendo DS in the UK continues to be an unprecedented success;" commented David Yarnton, Nintendo UK's general manager. "Gamers new and old have embraced the Nintendo DS and have left no doubt that it is the new must have handheld console! Nintendo set out to create a new way of hand-held gaming, offering an innovative and enjoyable experience and with the new Nintendo DS, and we have certainly accomplished this."
The DS continues to operate from a position of power in Europe, with no major handheld gaming competitors apart from the relatively low-profile Gizmondo and Zodiac. However, the
freshly announced arrival of Sony's PSP on September 1st should change the market shape significantly.
