We finally have some sales figures for one of the recently launched next-gen consoles. Nintendo today announced that over 600,000 Wii systems were sold in the Americas in the first 8 days after its November 19 launch. Since the Wii is still sold out in the US, that gives us an indication of how many Wiis Nintendo has shipped so far. Nintendo recently promised 1 million units by the end of the year, so that means we can expect a little under 400,000 in future shipments.
The Wii's flagship title, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, has sold over 454,000 copies, meaning more than 75% of Wii owners picked up the game with their system.
Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, commented on the Wii's success:
"Even with sales already in excess of 600,000 units, demand continues to exceed supply, as it's clear this is one of the 'gotta-have' products for the holiday season. We've shipped retailers several times the amount of hardware the other company was able to deliver for its launch around the same time -- and we still sold out.
Given the inclusive nature of Wii game play, we're seeing this new form of video gaming is already a huge hit with gamers and newcomers alike. It continues to be a phenomenal launch."
Nintendo included one other figure with the report - the console sales, along with first-party software and accessories sales, have made the Wii into a $190 million business in the Americas.
