Iwata Comments on Weak 3DS Sales in the West

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently discussed the 3DS sales situation outside Japan as lacking momentum at the moment.

Speaking to investors, the man behind the company praised efforts in homeland Japan, with the console going from strength to strength - averaging around 83,000 sales per week at the beginning of the year - creating a steady stream of new adopters.

The situation is a little bit more dire in the West however, with the 3DS "currently weak", when it should be at least on par, if not higher than Japan given the relative population size of each region.

The sales proportion of the Nintendo 3DS is now about 20 per cent of the total video game sales in those markets. Thus, solid sales momentum has not been created.

With a positive reception towards the upcoming 3DS XL and a handful of essential titles, including New Super Mario Bros 2, sales are expected to kick in as we enter the second half of the year.