GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

3DS sells 795,000 in November, tops DS's first year total

Glasses-free 3D handheld tops 2.37 million threshold after eight months; Super Mario 3D Land sells 625,000 as Zelda: Skyward Sword posts first-week sales of 600,000 copies.

125 Comments

The industry-tracking NPD Group this afternoon released its US retail sales figures for November, trumpeting the successes of best-selling game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and best-selling system Xbox 360. Since the NPD Group wasn't boasting of Nintendo's efforts, the 3DS maker took that task upon itself.

Super Mario 3D Land helped goose 3DS sales for the month.
Super Mario 3D Land helped goose 3DS sales for the month.

According to Nintendo, the month of November saw the 3DS surpass the first-year sales total of the original DS, topping 2.37 million systems sold. Last month saw the glasses-free 3D handheld sell 795,000 systems in the US, assisted by the mid-month launch of Super Mario 3D Land, which has now topped 625,000 copies sold.

Nintendo's newest system wasn't its best-selling, however. The Wii sold 860,000 systems during November, punctuated by its strongest Black Friday ever, with 520,000 systems sold in a single day. The total US installed base of the Wii has now reached 37.7 million consoles. On the software front, the Wii saw the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which Nintendo said had the largest launch day in franchise history and sold over 600,000 copies in its debut week.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 125 comments about this story
125 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Wolflink001
Wolflink001

5462

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 59

User Lists: 0

That's nice to hear that the sells have spiked for the 3DS enough to beat out the DS's sells in its first year! But until I see some more games that really start to grab my attention for the 3DS I'm gonna have stick with playing my DSi. Sorry Nintendo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for cbeck002
cbeck002

261

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Mario 3D land and Mario Kart have gone a long way toward warming me up to what (I'll be honest) I initially thought to be a mistaken purchase; it's good to see the system finding some ground. One thing is bothering me though: the last two generations of Nintendo handhelds were a haven of classic (menu-based) RPGs for me and I'm not really seeing any in that vein for the 3DS. Maybe it's just an old-timer (25,old?) grasping at the straws of nostalgia but if Square Enix were to announce tomorrow a 3DS iteration of Final Fantasy(s) 4-6 I would still buy without question, no matter how shameless the cash-in. Here's hoping classic-style RPGs still have a home on this next generation of portables.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kindredmachine
kindredmachine

2625

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

It's good to know that the 3DS is picking up steam!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for digi-demon
digi-demon

803

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

@voldalin Agree 100% - from NES to Wii Nintendo have always inspired games marketplace - and while you list some of the many Nintendo inovations, dont forget N64 Rumble Pak and GC Wavebird :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ggregd
ggregd

850

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

@voldalin I like Nintendo, really, but you sound like an Apple fan with your overstatements. If you were playing PC games at the time you saw 3d and everything else there long before it hit consoles and there was no discernable market crash. Otherwise good for Nintendo!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for penpusher
penpusher

3573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@megakick yeah, I agree because angry birds just makes zelda look like badly crafted trite ... mobile gamings a long way off being hardcore

Upvote • 
Avatar image for voldalin
voldalin

121

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Go, Nintendo. I grew up with Atari, Nes and Snes, and still have my old N64. People who never experienced those days of gaming probably don't realize how Nintendo saved the video game market from death after the market crashed with the Atari game system and the entire company going belly up, and gave people a reason to play again with the release of the original mario brothers, as well as saving the arcade market with the over night sucess of donkey kong, and how Mario 64 and Zelda games for N64 revolutionized video games and brought it from 2D to 3D. Not to mention the first analog joy stick we ever saw developed by therm for N64, and the first sucessful hand held system, the gameboy, which was amazing with it's black and white screen for that time. Where would we be with out Nintendo? I hope this company continues to prosper and do well.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dawnofhero
dawnofhero

1284

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 57

User Lists: 0

Not to mention the 10 free GBA games for us ambassadors.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@ellez : Resident Evil : Revelations,Metal Gear Solid,Fire Emblem,2 Monster Hunter titles,Heroes of Ruin,Tekken 3d,Rayman Origins,Shinobi,Sonic Generations,Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition,Dead or Alive Dimensions,Bit.Trip.Saga,Cave Story 3d,Ace Combat,Shin Megami,Bravely Default,Kingdom Hearts,Roller Coaster Tycoon 3d,Ridge Racer...care to hear even more?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ellez
ellez

250

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Honestly, Nintendo needs to get some good quality 3rd party games... Im tired of them relying on Mario and Link for everything.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@megakick : The only reason you are saying that is to come up with an excuse to not like portable gaming.Give me 10 ORIGINAL AAA hardcore titles that aren't rip-offs of actual games or ports of ds and psp games.If you show ANY gamer with half a mind the list of few quality titles on ios compared to the mass amount of shovelware and tell them it is a gaming device and they will laugh you out of the building.The 3ds has just left the gates and it already has an equal (if not better) game lineup than the iphone which has had 4 years and the Vita easily has a better potential lineup than iphone and it hasn't even been released yet.Tell me this...if ios gaming is so much better than portable gaming why are there so many titles in the app store that are ports of ds titles? Shantae's Risky,ScribbleNauts,Chinatown wars,I could go all day....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mister_scowl
mister_scowl

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

@megakick: I love my 3DS and would take it over mobile phone gaming any day.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for vault-boy
vault-boy

205

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 0

@Shawn45 actually they're doing bad, they where down almost a billion this year. Granted that was about a month ago but I doubt its changed considerably. Still, Wii U might bring them out of there little situation, and Skyward Sword brought in millions for them so maybe they have gone up a bit. I hope they don't go the way of the Sega, but all its going to take is one more Virtual Boy and they could go down the tubes.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for megakick
megakick

1931

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Portable gaming is a waste IMO. Back in the day portable gaming was like WOW! Moblie phones are getting better and better.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for alkaline_DnB
alkaline_DnB

1816

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

seems to me that the 3DS doesn't deliver much on the 3D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Shawn45
Shawn45

281

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

I'm glad Nintendo seems to be doing well for themselves.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for metalkitten
metalkitten

9249

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

i was never worried dont get why people were really...? id worry more about vita who keep delivering one worse news after another (and no i love both sony and nintendo and got all their consoles - so its not about that) the 3ds is a very solid, great console and next year is gonna be good for people like me who prefer third party games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6
deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6

2147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

See what happens when you slash your price. Ya gotta find that sweet spot. Now that folks are buying, maybe new, not rehashed games will follow. I really do want to upgrade, but think I shall wait for the next improved version.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kreegan64
kreegan64

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Well...this is a relief, at least somethings are finally working as they should

Upvote • 
Avatar image for steelmouth
steelmouth

1084

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Gaming Is Big Money

Upvote • 
Avatar image for squall_83
squall_83

820

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

I've got to admit I was pretty worried about this system, but now hopefully it will start flourishing. I need some games to play on this thing.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Wormkid_64
Wormkid_64

1172

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I've been playing Oot 3D,Super Mario 3d Land,and MarioKart 7 for the past few days,and I've been having a blast.I've never gotten so far in Oot,and those Mario games live up to the hype. Nintendo has done me proud,regardless of their sales.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for waZelda
waZelda

2956

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 118

User Lists: 0

Not surprisingly, a super mario and a Mario Kart game was what the system needed.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Zer093
Zer093

28

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This is great news! I was getting worried that the 3DS was going to fail and developers would avoid putting new titles on the system, which would have meant I got it near launch for nothing... Here's to a bright future for the 3DS!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Justinge3
Justinge3

2506

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

Still waiting for 3DS lite...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@dxdevilex0 actually I don't have a 3ds but I have a friend that does and I have played on it @X_Colbert_X it is still just an option it isn't like when the vita comes out you can't play them on your psp I for one will be to busy playing the awesome vita games at launch anyways all my psp games are digital it makes it much easier and less stuff to carry when they are digital version and not the umd or any physical version

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soothsayer42
Soothsayer42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@moviequest14 True, and you reply me in saying 3DS multiples numbers of fans. Atleast I have my point in saying the games. I have nothing more to argue about. Why dont u grow up to become a gamer instead of replying to other people comments about Nintendo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Soothsayer42 : You are the one that said Vita would sell more because it had a larger fanbase...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soothsayer42
Soothsayer42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@moviequest14 Lol so all u care is about sells... Alright then. As long as Im gonna get to play those games. See ya

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@dxdevilex0 : Yeah,it seems EXTREMELY spoiled (to me at least imo) for anyone to complain about any game going exclusive to a Nintendo platform..they've seen FIVE monster hunter titles exclusive to the psp but you know what happens when 2 exclusive titles come to the 3ds? Everyone up in arms... 90% of GOOD titles that are exclusive are exclusive to either 360/ps3 but when a title (ie. Epic Mickey or Just Dance) does go exclusive to wii people throw a fit.Call me old fashioned or crazy..but if you like a game enough to complain that much about it you should just buy the system.There are a ton of exclusive games to systems that I would LOVE to have..but it is my choice not to purchase the system,so I don't complain about it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Soothsayer42 : And you are not understanding what I am saying...I never said those games are/were bad,but we saw this exact same case with the psp,plenty of titles that,much like the vita titles,have a large fanbase (you can't get a much larger fanbase than GTA,MGS,God of War,and Resistance) but the psp just didn't sell as well as the competition.Resistance has already been made into a portable game...or did it go up in such a flash you yourself haven't even heard of it? I just listed off an entire mass of games with massive ''hardcore'' fanbases that were all exclusively on the psp..but the psp still didn't beat out the competition.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soothsayer42
Soothsayer42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@X_Colbert_X I get ur point, but like I said before, all of them are optional. Not all vita games are big titles. I didnt try to start fanboyism cause I got the 3DS as well, All I am saying that Vita is going to attract lots of hardcore gamers making the handheld console to be successful. Its my opinion. Not everyone loves small scaled puzzle games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soothsayer42
Soothsayer42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Moviequest14 Look, stop being a lil fanboy.. just because u never play those epic games on the PS3, doesnt mean they are bad. If u read and understand my statement I said the valid point, games that gonna be released on Vita already have a big fanbase cause games title that I have mentioned were released on consoles. I didnt say that 3DS sucks, all I am saying that Vita is going to attract lots of hardcore gamers attention.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Soothsayer42
Soothsayer42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@ABEzilla116 I did say it, check back my first comment.. I dont know why you will say awesome games like Killzone, Resistance is not interesting on the vita..

Upvote • 
Avatar image for scottyskater77
scottyskater77

133

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

I wonder if this makes up for the lack of initial 3DS launch sales. If they would have released Mario 3D Land and Ocarina of Time at launch, would they have sold this many units (plus what was already sold at launch), or would it still have been much more than this, exponentially even?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dxdevilex0
dxdevilex0

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@moviequest14 and X_Colbert_X And after all this arguement shadowhunter still has a 3DS. :P Sometimes I don't get people,they keep saying saying that Nintendo needs more 3rd party games and exclusives.And when they found out that Resident Evil Revelations is a 3DS exclusive they were like "PORT IT TO VITA" or "I want this game,but I don't want a 3DS" etc. And I know some of you might not agree with this,but I think the 3DS's launch titles wasn't that bad.There were Nintendogs,Street fighter,ridge rider and some others.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for packtop
packtop

301

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@X_Colbert_X Something not many seem to think about is not only you will need to buy the game again to download on the Vita but you will also have to pay for a Memory card to download which adds to the cost...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for packtop
packtop

301

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@Tauu If a pokemon game from the main series is released it will boost sales for sure much more then what Mario did and Mario did a pretty good job.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Tauu
Tauu

825

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

The glasses-free 3D on the 3DS isn't the best thing since pizza but Nintendo has done a fine job of building an installed base for the system. Just a few months ago people were calling the 3DS the new Virtual Boy. That's not happening and just wait until Pokemon games start coming out (assuming they're good). The future looks pretty bright for the system.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for X_Colbert_X
X_Colbert_X

995

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Soothsayer42 The fact that Sony is charging for backwards compatibility is--in my mind, at least--completely absurd. And the only reason I brought up Monster Hunter was because you brought up the point of MHP being exclusive to the PSP. The other games you mentioned are all shaping up to provide what one would consider a console-quality experience. That's something Sony did with the PSP and it's something they are now aiming for with the Vita. What Nintendo targeted with the DS (and now the 3DS) is to provide a portable gaming experience, not a console-quality experience. Now, that is not to say there aren't console-quality games for the 3DS or portable-centric games for the Vita--how the hardware is utilized is up to the developer. The developers of most of the titles you mentioned are treating the Vita as Sony intended, while 3DS devs tend to treat it as Nintendo intended. This is where the different demographics I mentioned come into play: There are gamers out there who want a console experience on the go and there are gamers out there who want a portable gaming experience on the go. Personally, I prefer the latter. Usually when I'm playing a portable system, it's on the bus to work or waiting for a taxi. I don't have time to sit down and play a full-fledged console game when I'm out of my house, so I'd rather play games that are easily played in 15-20 minute bursts. And when I'm at home, if I get the urge to play a console-quality game, I'll just play on a console.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for X_Colbert_X
X_Colbert_X

995

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@shadowhunter0 I meant UMD games you've purchased would have to be downloaded for a fee. Perhaps I should have specified that, my apologies.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@sbdoherty : Pretty impressive for a portable title,this isn't a console title..or did you even read the article to see that? Or did you just scan the number 600,000 and the word Nintendo in it and assume to downplay it?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@shadowhunter0 : This again provides a major problem for anyone not within accessible range of a wi-fi hotspot..and having to pay at all to transfer over games destroys the purpose of backwards compatibility at all,not to mention that not ALL psp games will be available for that treatment..and not to mention that if you have a lot of psp games you want to trade over you will be better off buying a new psp for the cost.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Haasdude : Want to know the vita battery life? 3-5 hours..the EXACT same as 3ds.The second analog stick won't even be included with more than 5 games for all we know,has an extremely long battery life (don't quote me on this but I believe 480 hours on only one AAA battery),is rumored that,despite the size,fits rather comfortably and is entirely optional for all of those games..nobody is making you buy it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ABEzilla116
ABEzilla116

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

@Stubborn_Stubby Here ya go. << LINK REMOVED >> I got it from amazon and its made by a company named cameron sino

Upvote • 
Avatar image for diggyman
diggyman

777

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Sold my 3DS... Don't miss it. Not trolling just being honest.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Haasdude
Haasdude

349

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@ABEzilla116 - My apologies if you thought I was trolling...I was merely implying that Nintendo won't begin feeling the pressure to release a "3DS 2" until the sales for this one begin to slide. I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have to purchase a third party battery to get more than 3 hours of playing time on a charge. The whole "second circle pad" debacle speaks for itself.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Stubborn_Stubby
Stubborn_Stubby

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@ABEzilla116 please tell me the name of this battery

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Soothsayer42 : For only a discounted fraction of what the game in retail costs.I never said monster hunter portable will/was coming to 3ds,2 unique monster hunter titles will be exclusively coming to 3ds.It is only a matter of time for CoD if they were able to make a game for the ds you can be pretty #### sure they will be releasing a title sooner or later for the 3ds.Ds didn't need resistance,god of war,amd mortal kombat to sell 149 million units..why should the 3ds? We are actually seeing significantly more ''hardcore'' titles this time around than we did last time.The psp had just as many ''console like games'' as vita will and had many,many more than ds had yet it wasn't extremely successful...what magic change has happened this time?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dRuGGeRnaUt
dRuGGeRnaUt

1637

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Link3301: *ahem* gears of war 3 *ahem* and many other exclusives easily achieve million + sales first week. Also, people need to take into account, there isn't 50-100million 3DS's around. Although, there aren't tons of games yet, so I would agree, more 3ds owners should have bought this game. I mean c'mon, it's-a-him-MARIO

Upvote •