December 2012 NPD: Nintendo's response, Wii U/3DS/Wii/DS sales

Nintendo's response to the 2012 NPD report is in. Sales for the Wii U (December and total since launch), NSMBU, Wii, 3DS, DS, and other data is now available.

[Thatguy-310]

Of course wii u generated more revenue than the wii. It did sell for a lot more $ so I assume that should be the case lol.

[1upgamer99]

Good for Nintendo. All the haters going to hate, but the numbers speak for themselves, all in all great launch! :)

[MikeMyers]

Not bad. Almost 900,000 in 41 days. They have also sold over 40 million Wii's now just in NPD region.

Anyone know why it's just Sony who refuses to give out actual numbers?

[nukeitall]

@MikeMyers:

Sony might not have gotten very good sales numbers.

[MikeMyers]

nukeitall, they haven't released numbers for a long time though. Not sure why.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/r...

I think ever since then Sony has declined to give out numbers.

[rainslacker]

@Mike

I'm pretty sure Sony gives out official numbers with their quarterly and annual earnings reports. We'll likely see them in the next couple of weeks since their 3rd quarter just ended 10 days ago.

NPD is a third party that does sales tracking for many things, not just video games. They didn't want the media to release their numbers to analyze the market, because they believe that the market is too fragmented to really get a clear picture based on the way they analyze the numbers.

[Knight_Crawler]

@ Mike - simple...if you post bad or ok numbers you lose the confidence of the consumer and if you lose the confidence of the consumer you lose the confidence of the shareholders and no shareholders equals no money.

Another thing could also be that Japan people are very proud people and if you do it is looked upon as a shame.

[MikeMyers]

Knight_Crawler,
Not sure if I agree. Sony still releases annual results.

rainslacker,
Makes sense. I know Apple and other companies don't like certain information out there.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012...

They certainly don't mind when it comes to other regions. I do question NPD at times since I heard some retailers like Wal-Mart are not counted.

[neogeo]

key word is (revenue) NOT PROFIT!

[deafdani]

No necessarily. By that logic, then Sony and Microsoft should have earned more money with the PS3 and Xbox 360 than Nintendo did with the Wii, because those consoles were much more expensive. However, Sony and Microsoft sold their consoles initially at a massive loss, while Nintendo saw massive profit per each Wii console sold since day one.

So, yeah, it's not as simple as associating earning with the price of the console. It's all relative.

[Jadedz]

I'm more impressed with the Wii and NDS numbers (also New Super Mario Bros. U's attach rate - 65%).

[GraveLord]

Those Wii U sales are abysmal considering the price its going for. For comparison, the $600 PS3 sold more on the December after its launch.

[Gr81]

In 2006 wasn't in the toilet either Grave. But since Wii U sales are abysmal, what would you call Vita's?

[RTheRebel]

yea abysmal sales like the vita @_@
go back to cod
kid

[Jadedz]

Though they're not terrible. Wii, NDS, and the 3DS all put up decent numbers, so I'm sure Nintendo's ok with the outcome.

[deafdani]

Really? I remember back in 2006 reading that Sony had about 400,000 PS3 units available for launch WORLDWIDE on their first month, and then they had a manufacturing problem where a portion of those units had defective lenses or something like that, so not all of those 400k units were available at launch.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

@deafdani

Ohhhhh yeah. I remember that. The PS3 almost had no units available at launch. Weird that the Wii had plenty and then went through a massive drought the next six months.

[HateFanboys]

Dont care if crap sells, its still crap, current-gen graphics with oversized gimmicky controller and portable with no 2nd analog stick and inferior grahics equals crap in my book. And all of Nintendo's franchises are 20/30yrs old franchises. I dont care how well Justin Beiber sells, he still sucks in my book!

[d0nni3]

now now ladies, put the handbags down

[DwightOwen]

The Wii U would probably be over the 1 million sold mark had Nintendo been able to anticipate demand for the Deluxe Set. Everywhere I see the system in stock its always the Basic model.

[PopRocks359]

It seems to be selling well depending on the store. I normally go to a small Gamestop and they're actually trying to get rid of them. Meanwhile the larger and nearby Best Buy has nothing in stock by the end of the day. And that includes both the basic and deluxe models.

[KrisButtar]

890,000 units sold in the us in 41 days.

[YoungPlex]

“While the Wii launch established new benchmarks in the United States, Wii U has surpassed its predecessor in perhaps the most important category: revenue generation,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing."

"New Super Mario Bros. U has now sold more than 580,000 units, an attach rate of more than 65 percent."

Clearly, Nintendo has succeeded in something the Wii couldn't do, sell software! While the Wii did sell more consoles, Wii U surpassed its predecessor in the most important category, revenue generation! Software will ALWAYS drive a system, now come on Nintendo, bring out the big guns...

[MilkMan]

These numbers a re f*&$cking crazy.
There pretty much set for a stormy night.
Its no surprise, I'm still playing my Wii, I love my 3DS and im looking forward to all the great games and EXPERIENCES I'll have with the Wii U.
In the meantime I have my other consoles to keep me busy.

[RTheRebel]

awesome sales
a price drop when next gen consoles come out will increase by alot

[EddieNX]

Wiiu is off to a good start. Everyone knows full well it's not fair comparing its sales to 360 , ps3 , wii , 3ds etc , because those consoles have much more games on the shelf.

I think if the wiiu can get to 10,000,000 worldwide by December it will be a huge success from their on...

[PopRocks359]

The numbers are pretty good so far. So who knows.

[EddieNX]

It will get to 10M. Wii fitU and Pikmin 3 are both system sellers , lego city , Rayman , Monster Hunter , Aliens are semi system sellers.
Then you have unnanounced games , for all we know something HUGE could be announced at e3 and be released before end of the year , Infact about 4-5 Big wiiu games will be announced at e3 or before and released before 2014 guaranteed.

It's an 8th gen console , So no use comparing it to 360 lol. Lets wait and see what 720 and ps4 do in the same time frame...

[Munnkyman]

I want to see start fox soooo bad

[TheyDontLoveYou]

Terrible numbers. Nintendo banked to much on the apple/casual audience and it bit back. Its flopping in America and Europe. The only place where this thing is somewhat selling is Japan.

[Theyellowflash30]

The Wii U sales numbers are better in America than Japan dude. Or are you talking about relative to the competition?

Either way, the sales numbers are actually good, and this is before Smash Bros, Wii Fit, Pikmin, Monster Hunter, Mario Kart ect. The Wii U is a lock to get to 10 Million by December.

[1upgamer99]

Terrible numbers? It sold more than Microsoft or Sony the same time frame their launch. Don't get me wrong I really wanted PS3 at launch, but $599 back then was too much for my wallet. So I am pretty sure that is why Nintendo has sold more. We did buy Xbox360 at launch, 3 months later Ring of Death...Ouch.

[TheyDontLoveYou]

Judging by the sell of the wii u 299/349 must be to much for peoples wallets. It sold like crap plain and simple. the wii sold more than the wii u, the ps3 sold more and the 360 shitted on all of em'.

[MegaLagann]

Sales are okay at the moment, but January through March could be brutal. Many people don't remember but the 3DS sales for the first few weeks were pretty good but took a nosedive. I kind of feel like this will happen with the Wii U sadly, but they can fix it.

1) The basic set has to go. Most people got the deluxe set and when I see stacks of Wii U's at Best Buys and Targets, it's always the basic set. No one wants it and Nintendo is just wasting money manufacturing it.

2) Advertise. Now I don't watch TV that often, but when I do I never see a Wii U ad. It just seems like they aren't pushing the system that much. Also on a side not, those Wii U commercials are terrible.

3) The name. We've been thought this thousands of times. But just like the Super Nintendo, PS2, GBA, 360 & 3DS the Wii U has the misfortune of being called an add-on by most casual consumers. Now yes casual consumers are stupid, but at the same time naming a system Wii U isn't smart either. This kind of goes into the second point, but still applies. They need to beat into people's heads that this is a new system. If Nintendo is desperate enough, they could discontinue the Wii to stop the confusion, but I doubt that.

4. ANNOUNCE SOME F***ING GAMES! I know Nintendo's known for their secrecy and wanting to announce their stuff when they want to, but for the love of Kojima's firm ass they need to announce more games fast. Some people are already saying Nintendo should price drop the Wii U like the 3DS, but what people fail to realize is while the 3DS sales picked up, they only really picked up when Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 comes out. It doesn't matter if they drop the price, if there isn't enough big games people won't buy it. I mean look at a few days ago when the announce Pokemon X and Y, all my friends are running out and getting a 3DS in preparation for X and Y. Do that for the Wii U! Announce a 3D Mario, show off Smash Bros (maybe a release date), Zelda, Retro's new game, Monolith's new game, show something built from the ground up for the Wii U that shows it is truly more powerful than the PS3 and 360, get people excited! Not everything needs to be saved for E3. Besides Bayonetta 2, there really is nothing to look forward to after the launch window. Get people looking forward to the future.

Look, i'm not going on the Nintendo hate train that everyone loves to ride on (especially on N4G) and these sales aren't terrible and just because it's not setting the world on fire with sales right now doesn't mean it will eventually I mean look at the 3DS and PS3, slow starts but now sell great and have great libraries. The Vita is slowly starting to pick up sales (though Pokemon might put a damper on that but that's another ramble). I'm just suggesting some ideas that can help the Wii U through it's first year, which is usually the hardest.

[PS4isKing_82]

I fully agree. I've been wondering the same thing myself lately. I love my wiiu to death but i'm not seeing anything new coming out anytime soon.

Not to mention most 3rd parties are skipping it (for now).
But i'm hoping once they see how good its selling, they'll reconsider.

Btw, the demos for zombiu and nba 2k13 are now available on the wiiu eshop if anyone's interested. I'm downloading mine as I type this on my gamepad. :)

[Theyellowflash30]

Aliens Colonial Marines in February, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in March.

[1upgamer99]

Yes too many people that don't have a Wii U sit there and Knock it. It does more than my PS3 and it is REALLY Cool playing Black Ops on it, in FACT I would challenge ANY PS3 owner or 360 owner to play Multi-Player on line same room and compare, Or two pro-controllers and Gamepad as a map and tell me I am wrong...I am sorry, if I had to buy a freaking PS3 again, yes I would, because I have too many games for it not to, but Wii you is priced about the same as a PS3 Slim, and can do SOOOOOO much more. Oh and Xbox 360 0wners, it is called a PC.

[ThaBlackBaron]

LOL @ fools saying Wii U numbers are bad ! 890k in 40+ days!!!?! in NA alone wow how da hell is that bad? lol 3DS 1.25 MILLION IN DEC. plus the Wii/DS are STILL selling! 475k/470k.. wow

[metroidfusion2]

O shit black baron how long have you been on this site and have you made videos and make more videos like before calling out the sony drones and microshit fans and doing all the stuff you normally do its to damn funny

[herbs]

More games available early on and announcements to look forward to would have definitely increased the sales. It's too bad Nintendo didn't front more cash to high profile game studios for more support. I'm sure they would have seen better returns in the long run and would end up with a bigger lead over their competitors. It's really sad that Wii U owners are missing out on so many high profile 3rd party games this year. Nintendo should invest more on there investment and stay true to there promise of winning back the hardcore. (Im not hating) the Wii U obviously has great potential im just a little disappointed in Nintendo overall.

[wiiulee]

even with the numbers and facts...haters will still hate...point it wiiu is outselling ps3 and xbox360 during the same period and is either outselling or keeping pace with the wii and thats with all the lies from haters and bad press and game delays ....so that tells you just how well wiiu will be doing in a couple months....its in front to stay

[younghavok]

Its cool to hate Nintendo in the game world even though their titles continue to sell like hot cakes. Wait until more software is announced and released, the console will earn its place. It has quite a few good looking exclusives coming out in the next few months, and exclusives are what sell consoles. Nobody is going to buy a PS3 to play Call Of Duty if they already have a 360 that can play it. ZThey will however buy one to play uncharted and the other exclusives the console offers. Thats what Nintendo needs to do. Multiplats are fine and all but if everybody is throwing the same party why not just stick to whats convenient?