The 3DS is out in Japan. The handheld launched on Saturday (26 February) with an initial amount of 400Â 000 units. They were all snatched up – in one day. I guess that means the Japanese launch is going well?
According to Destructoid’s Dale North (who is in Japan) the launch was somewhat low-key. This he attributes to the fact that the vast majority of those initial 400Â 000 units were pre-orders. There were no crowds of salivating Nintendo fans vying for a unit because everyone who didn’t pre-order was told not to bother to go to stores. There were still queues though, as can be seen in the picture above. That line did, however, have some people who managed to get a 3DS without ordering one – they were a few of the extremely lucky ones.
Nintendo is aiming to ship 1.5 million 3DS units in Japan by the end of March. Yesterday (Sunday 27 February) more shops around Japan received stock and promptly sold out. If Nintendo keeps this up then they should have little problem shipping their 1.5 million. The 3DS will land in Europe (and South Africa) on 25 March. By then end of March Nintendo aims to have shipped 4 million 3DS units worldwide.
If you’re planning on buying one locally you should probably pre-order, but you know that already.
Source: Destructoid
Last Updated: February 28, 2011