Nintendo to sell an extra three million DS Lites

Even Nintendo seems to be surprised about the popularity of DS Lite. The little handheld has been constantly sold out since it was launched in Japan last March. And despite monthly production being increased to 2.5 million units, demand is still outstriping supply.

Good news then for Nintendo's accountants, who have just announced the company expects to be much more profitable than it originally thought.

Thanks to what it gently describes as 'worldwide robust trends in sales' with respect to DS, it now reckons it will make a profit of £519 million this financial year – that's £84 million more than it first predicted.

Nintendo expects to sell an extra 3 million DS Lites in the period between April 2006 to March 2007, as well as an extra 18 million DS games.

The total figures are now expected to be 23 million DS and DS Lites sold and 100 million games. Nintendo also expects to sell four million GBA and 36 million GBA games during the same time.

In fact, the company's only problem is the falling value of the dollar against the Japanese currency, the Yen. Nintendo assumes the exchange rate between the two will remain at 115 Yen to the dollar. However, with the dollar losing value against most international currencies, including the Yen, this could hit Nintendo's profits since much of its sales and strategic cash reserves are held in dollars.

Right, International Finance 101 now over. Back to button bashing!