DSi becomes UK's fourth fastest-selling console of all time
Nintendo's latest handheld enjoys strong opening weekend
The figures are coming in for the DSi’s launch weekend (the system hit the UK shelves last Friday, April 3rd – check out Pocket Gamer's complete DSi guide) that, according to Gfk-Chart Track data, show the DS hardware update to be the UK’s fourth fastest-selling console of all time.
“It’s a very impressive opening couple of days considering the lack of launch software,” GfK-ChartTrack’s Chris Poole told MCV.
The DSi even managed to out sell the original DS, as well as beating the combined sales of all other current generation consoles over the weekend (PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360).
This puts the DSi behind the PSP, PS3 and Wii in terms of launch weekend sales, though it’ll be a while before we know whether these sales figures can be sustained (take the PS3 as an example).
The DSi is now at the mercy of software sales to keep itself on track after a successful launch – there was a "slight spike" in sales associated with the arrival of the new handheld – though hopefully the DS's prolific back catalogue will give it a foot on the ladder in that respect.
“It's difficult to tell if the momentum will continue into the week, as much of the sales would have been pre-ordered,” Poole concludes.
