The Nintendo Wii has fallen from number one to the number three console. Coming in third usually isn't something to be upset about but the Wii is number three out of three. It has been the top-selling console almost every month since its release in 2006 but its reign as king of the consoles appears to be over.
When the system first came out in 2006 it was impossible to find. I was working at a Best Buy in 2007, and on days we had the Wii in stock, they brought in extra security because of the rabid customers. It was the must-have item months after it debuted. But times have changed.
A recent article in the LA Times revealed the Wii's sales for the first ten months of 2010 were down 24% from 2009. Sales for Microsoft's Xbox 360 are up 34% and Sony's PS3 are up 14%.
Microsoft and Sony can both thank their newly released contributions to motion controls for the sales bump. Casual gamers are why the Wii sold so well before, but with Kinect and Move, Microsoft and Sony are tapping into the same pool of gamers who previously only saw the Wii as an option.
Nintendo is now focusing on late-adopters, people who haven't joined the console party. Nintendo did enjoy high Black Friday sales, selling more than 600,000 Wii consoles.
Will it be possible for the Wii to become number one again this holiday season?
Source: LA Times
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SymbioteSP3
i think the reason thats its not number one right now is cuz almost everyone has a wii now, i mean look at how many overall sales the wii has, thats ALOT of ppl
Angelicsin87
Good riddens, it was high time that real motion control came in whether it be PS3's most accurate wii with 3d or Kinects super motion detecting god system. Wii still has the highest selling record though for the 3rd generation of modern day gaming.
Tmidiman
Nintendo's spin will be to talk about the success of the 3DS. They will get big bucks for that as the Wii POSSIBLY just languishes and dies.
My hope is that they will come back to hardcore gamers, but I know Nintendo. They never listen to their customers. Never!
My hope for Move and Kinects is that they soon relaes a hardcore game andbreally show what can be done. I don't care if Kinects uses a controller or not. A fun game is a fun game.
Until that hardcore kinects/move game is on the shelves for purchase I believe no one and will except no excuses. And no "wait and see".
Put the games on the shelves!
The Polaris37
Thought it was pretty clear that it was just in monthly sales....
nintendude57
im sure the wii will do well but probably not as good as the other consoles...lets face the facr, who desn't have a wii now a days? im a hardcore nintendo fan but i have to say the wii is going down. :(
buiman11
Well, not really. When you have Sony and Microsoft competing on the motion control level, with Wii not bringing in anything as hyped as Move or Kinect, there isn't much love left for Wii, at least not this season. They can't keep popping out new hardware and expect everyone to jump on board. I expect Kinect to do the best because in these frugal days of ours, not buying extra controllers are what the parents are gonna go for, and of course, all that movement. Sorry Nintendo.
chubi-_-
the wii sold so well because of wii sports i know like 20 people who bought a wii and never bought any games haha
but i think in time ps3 will out sell 360 because of all the exclusive titles that are coming out for ps3
Muscley_Arms
lol the sales are dropping for it cuz everyone already has a wii :P
Bomblord
Nintendo said that once the wii falls beyond a certain point hey'll announce a new console so yea but they also said not till it sells certain number of units so idk hope this means they announce a new console
loadofpoo
But the Xbox360 and PS3 have NOT surpassed the Wii, they are still #1.
billclinton2006
The only reason people bought a wii was because it was the cheapest console. and... now that the Xbox 360 and Sony have come down they have surpassed the wii.. THANKS FRICKEN GOD!!! I can't stand that useless piece of crap of a wanna be console!
Xeno_6891
Not too surprising. The sales of the Kinect and the Move have diverted most people who wanted to give motion control a try.
XXXSpartan118XXX
LOL at the idiot who said PS3 and Xbox are the same with sales overall. The Xbox has sold over 40 million. The PS3 has 38 million. PS3 is dead last overall....
tnycaps8
everyone who wanted a Wii, got it. its days of top selling are done now that the other consoles offer the same motion control options in there own respects. the Wii is now meant for the kid who cant be trusted with a 300$ console. which unless there under 7 is ok. but any kid over that wants a PS3 or a XBOX 360. Wii will hang in there but more sooner then later will need a update. the good thing is the Wii update should be a big leap....... hopeful lol
erosennin987
Fanboys... when will they all die??? Am i right??!
we'll i think the 360 will do well this year and next bc of Kinect. i tried it out and oh man is it awesome!! PS3 move my fav game for that are this boxing and shield and sword game. both very ACCURATE!! * take notes nintendo* my wii is nothing but a pretty paper weight
bigbowser101
I can imagine people jumping on the wii band wagon this holiday. The addition of the wii remote plus not long ago into the new wii bundles and the anniversary bundle packing new super mario bros wii along with a low 199 price point should help the wii sell this holiday.
loadofpoo
Face the facts, your crapbox360 will NEVER catch up to the Wii this generation no matter what, its too late!!!
GamebustaZX
yes its about time the load of crap machine surrendered to the xbox and PS3 feel the wraft of having no hardcore games nintendo
loadofpoo
This whole article is nothing but a load of poo. All these trollers out there are spelling out doom and gloom for the Wii and it is total B.S. Be more descriptive in your articles, it is 100% false that the Wii is in third place. You make it sound like it is third place in total sales. They are way ahead of the other two consoles and are still in first place, get your facts straight. The Xbox360 has a long way to go to catch up to the Wii, they are not even close to getting in first place. Wii is still #1 right now, so get that through your thick skull.
RockieOllie
I hope this means Nintendo will actually make a new console. PLEASE! I mean Wii speak has been already discontinued, the motion plus built in controllers, are what the wii should of had from the beginning. I really hope the E3 worst case 2013's E3 Nintendo will announce a new console and get this console back in the competition. I mean besides First party exclusives the wii has absolutely nothing going for it now.
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