Nintendo sells 6 million Wii units in Japan

by Ross Miller { May 13th 2008 at 10:30PM }

We're getting pretty sick of the money-printing jokes so we're just going to avoid it. Famitsu owner (and trusted sales data tracker) Enterbrain reports (via IGN) that Nintendo has sold six million Wii units in Japan, bringing the worldwide total to 25 million. Other fun statistics (assume exactly 6 million as of the start of May 13):

With a population of 127.4 million, that's approximately 4.71 percent of all the people in Japan.
The Wii launched midnight on December 2, 2006, exactly 527 days ago. That amounts to 11,385 per day, 474 per hour, and 7.9 per minute (in Japan).
Nintendo passed the 5 million mark as of January 20, or 113 days ago. So specifically, the 5 million went at an average of 503 per hour, with the latest million going at about 369 per hour (again, in Japan). That doesn't mean the Wii is slowing down, given the higher rate includes a launch and two holiday seasons.

In terms of software, Mario Kart Wii has become the sixth game to pass the one million mark, while Wii Fit has passed the two million mark as of May 13. Only two other games have gone double platinum: Wii Sports (not bundled with console in Japan) and Wii Play.

Tags: business, hardware, nintendo, sales, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mo @ May 13th 2008 10:38PM

Damn Nintendo knew what the hell they were doing when they made the Wii

John McPoop @ May 13th 2008 11:59PM

Yeah they sure did ... A little duct tape ... two game cubes ... AN IR pointer and sensor bar and BAM you have an instant money maker ...

Obviously I am kidding so don't go getting all self righteous, Co.

I guess if you use the same logic the PS3 would be like 10 or 15 PS2 duct taped together ... The 360 would be probably the same 10-15 ... Obviously thats completely accurate and scientific data I am using from my 8 week study ...

TheHuntIsOn @ May 14th 2008 4:01AM

Didn't they just, Mo! It's a good thing the old "king" of sorts is back in first place in both handheld and console markets.

Between my Wii and PC I've never really needed anything else.

Playboy X - My Avatar Actually Changed @ May 13th 2008 10:40PM

This is reportable?

Lone Starr @ May 13th 2008 10:45PM

You don't think this is significant in any way?

tmacairjordan87 @ May 13th 2008 10:48PM

It would be if like 85% of the games didn't blow

Playboy X - My Avatar Actually Changed @ May 13th 2008 10:50PM

Is it not a forgone conclusion that the Wii sells a lot of units?

Hitler is evil...
Oprah is a demi-god...
Wii sells a lot of units.

Fernando Rocker @ May 13th 2008 10:52PM

Well jordan, at least the Wii has several first party titles with an average score above 90%

And the PS3 don't.

SoulBlade @ May 13th 2008 10:55PM

How about staying on topic and not starting a gay ass fanboy war?

It's as reportable as any other sales numbers out there. But yea... who really cares at this point?

tmacairjordan87 @ May 13th 2008 10:57PM

Not really a fair stat since most of ps3's big games last year were NEW FRANCHISES and with the exception of ratchet not complete rehashes. But according to the same chart that reported the wii having the worst games, also said ps3 ranked highest in overall scores with almost equal amount of games as the wii. 360 was lower of course (but still higher than wii) cause they had like 300 somethin games to around 200ish for both ps3 and wii.

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ May 13th 2008 10:58PM

I'll take a good 15% of great games. Not sure how many games are available currently, but I would guess over 100. I can think of a good 15 worth playing. So, I'm happy with that percentage.

Lone Starr @ May 13th 2008 11:08PM

"Is it not a forgone conclusion that the Wii sells a lot of units?"

But that doesn't quantify anything. And how can we make meaningful comparisons without something that's quantified? I could say PS2 sold a lot of units last generation, but that doesn't tell you how well it compared relative to the other systems.

Anni @ May 13th 2008 11:09PM

Oh, Jordan, you really need some new material.

Sort of like how the PS3 needs some new games, am I right? Am I right?

Aaaah. Yeah. Yeah, this is fun.

tmacairjordan87 @ May 13th 2008 11:14PM

A wii owner telling someone else needs new games.

Irony at its finest.

Playboy X - My Avatar Actually Changed @ May 13th 2008 11:24PM

@ Lone Starr

"But that doesn't quantify anything. And how can we make meaningful comparisons without something that's quantified? I could say PS2 sold a lot of units last generation, but that doesn't tell you how well it compared relative to the other systems."

That's the problem, Joystiq posts this stuff to have fresh forum for flame wars. We can now have a duel with "meaningful comparisons" AKA fuel to the fire that is the "console war"... THERES A GUY ON THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW MAKING HIS CASE FOR WHY HIS CONSOLE IS BETTER USING THIS AS AMMO... Just dumb...

Anni @ May 13th 2008 11:36PM

"A wii owner telling someone else needs new games."

This sentence is difficult to decipher!

Lone Starr @ May 13th 2008 11:37PM

^

I agree that flame wars are stupid, but should that stop Joystiq from posting stats/news and the like? I know pretty much any site will have flamebait/trolling, but I would rather have that than nothing at all.

Plus, it's kind of entertaining.

BlaqueBeird @ May 14th 2008 1:46AM

I would go so far as to say that flame wars are the main reason fot these posts, since everyone always reads the posts if it has tons of comments. It's actually a clever strategy, and hilarious to watch fanboys rally the troops and sling poo at each other. Keep it up, I say.

Fernando Rocker @ May 13th 2008 10:41PM

And it's only half million behind the 360 here in USA.

The Wii will have the install base advantage in all the three regions in a month, approximatly.

Now it's only to you, developers, to try and compete witn Nintendo games, by releasing games with the same quality as the Nintendo games. You now have the install base. Now to do good games people.

Fernando Rocker @ May 13th 2008 10:45PM

By the way, now that we are talking about sales:

Mario Kart Wii already outsold the PS3 version of GTA worldwide.

Regarding to the bet with some Joystiq readers, the bet was for the sales between Mario Kart Wii and PS3 GTA in USA, first month sales. Ok?

Superstar90 @ May 13th 2008 10:49PM

You don't forget a thing do you?

Jacksons @ May 13th 2008 10:49PM

"...by releasing games with the same quality as the Nintendo games."

Don't hold your breath.

sifer2400 @ May 13th 2008 10:51PM

the crackpots just keep coming
ps why does it seem like some one took a golden shower on that wii??? lol

SoulBlade @ May 13th 2008 10:57PM

Why do you constantly bring up the PS3? Your comments just get worse by day and more people either consider you a troll or just ignore you on a daily basis. Just give it a rest man. All consoles have their flaws - all have their strong points. I'd love to see the Wii pull off some of the shit the PS3 does, but can it? Hell no. Do I give Wii grief about it in every PS3 thread? Fuck no.

Fernando Rocker @ May 13th 2008 11:01PM

SoulBlade

This is a sales thread... I was just reminding to some guys from here about our little bet.

"... or just ignore you on a daily basis..."

You can do that too... there's no problem. Really.

noskillbassist @ May 13th 2008 11:20PM

Can I be honest with you Fernando? You act pretty childish sometimes. Everytime a console related news item comes up, 9 times out of 10 you bring up a "PS3 sucks" point. I'm sure by now, everyone gets you are a Nintendo/360 fanboy and it's petty competition posts like yours that give gamers a bad name. I see no reason why you constantly defend Wii/360 and attack PS3. I have high doubts you work for Microsoft or Nintendo, let alone have stock invested in them. Hate a system all you want, but shit, grow the fuck up and just go on with your life without trying to prove to everyone what you don't like is inferior. And please, before anyone chimes in with "PS3 fanboy" just don't. I plan on getting a 360 around the time Gears 2 is released and I have a Wii for Brawl.

Fernando Rocker @ May 13th 2008 11:26PM

Please, oh please: Tell me where did I bash the PS3...?

Ninjakamster (PSN: Chin-Poh) @ May 13th 2008 11:27PM

Nah, releasing shovelware is a lot easier and still nets a lot of profit! : D

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ May 13th 2008 11:35PM

No one ever calls out tmac, and he does it way more (and annoyingly, might I add.)

John McPoop @ May 13th 2008 11:47PM

@Fernando

It doesn't matter how many units sold world wide because the bet was for the USa only. I hear everyone saying the Wii has these great games and I just don't see it. I mean I have all of the big ones and a couple of lesser known games and the only one that I would say is a "great" game would be Galaxy.

Mario Kart sucks ass in my opinion. That was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent. What they hell are they doing with that franchise. Its like they are trying to appeal to everyone who has a Wii now. For the record I would also like to say I thought Brawl is shit also. At least with Brawl (unlike Mario kart) the graphics were nice to look at. Mario kart Wii is like a dead ringer for double dash in the graphics department.

Now, I have actually enjoyed some Wii games so I don't want to sound like I am hating. I am just giving my honest opinion. I certainly enjoyed Zack And Wiki and Metroid a lot. I would say those two along with Galaxy are my top 3 favorite Wii games. I thought Zelda was actually pretty weak as well especially compared to the Zelda game on the DS I have played a few times. The other Wi games are Paper Mario, Sega Superstars Tennis (I know( and Boom Blox. I have to say Boom Blox is a pretty fun game albeit extremely shallow. In the end its Jenga anyway so how much depth is one to expect.

I guess of you really love Nintendo games the Wii is the bomb. There just isn't much there for me and I never really play it unless the family is on it.

You can hate on the PS3 all you want but with the large number of multiplatform titles available and the great exclusives I would take a PS3 over a Wii every day of the week Again its a matter of preference and I prefer Warhawk, Gran Turismo, Hotshots, MLB 08 The Show, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword & Resistance to my stable of Wii exclusives.

In the end we all play what we like but I just happen to prefer the PS3's games. I have never seen the no games argument as valid to any console except the Wii because there is no multiplatform titles.

I would have picked up Okami and RE 4 if I didn't already own them on my PS2.

But congrats to the Wii for being able to appeal to everyone. I still say Universal Truth is not measured in mass appeal.

hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ May 13th 2008 11:58PM

@ noskillbassitt if fernando wants to bash the ps3 just let him who cares as long as he knows there might be some backlash as to what he write's its not like you have to read it, i own a ps3 only a ps3 and plan on owning only a ps3 for the fore see able future yet nothing he says bothers me. when i read his comments i only see him informing others of a hobbie that he enjoys and would like others to enjoy it also, give the guy a break, for gods sake he has to deal with friend codes!

HighFiveJesus @ May 14th 2008 12:04AM

you threw up that snide remark about metacritic bullshit about how at least the wii has so many games past 90, and then you coulda left it at that, but no, you had to tack on a "and the ps3 don't". nobody else mentioned it until you did.

and furthermore, all those games were going to be that good, and nobody seriously thought otherwise. The latest mario, zelda, metroid and smash brothers are not bragging rights anymore, they are the reason why you buy nintendo for the last 10 years. So yeah, its dumb to think the ps3 won't have its proven franchises getting 90 and above scores when they actually show up. All i've seen so far is Ratchet and its barely below a 90. People expect the latest from metal gear solid, grand turismo, god of war, final fantasy, and whatever team ico is working on to do very well. Until then, Sony is coming up with a lot of new stuff that is really interesting, and there will be a few hits in there to add to the list too. I love nintendo but they need to get their ass cooking up some new amazing games that don't require a familiar face to get attention.

HighFiveJesus @ May 14th 2008 12:18AM

also i advise you to stop using metacritic and averages to wage your battles, because the math doesn't help the wii in the overall picture. there are 5 90 and above games for the wii, 4 for the ps3. Not a huge difference. And even then when you look at the entire library (i consider good games to be 80 and above) of good ways to play, the ps3 has double of that of the wii, and a handful of those are just ports of games that were already great anyway. Also, i don't want to hear about the 360, i'm not bringing that into this mess you created.

ill trooper @ May 14th 2008 1:10AM

I can't play GTA4, Rock Band, Rainbow 6, or CoD4 on it, therefore it is collecting dust right now. Your milage surely varies.

noskillbassist @ May 14th 2008 1:22AM

@hey_big_dck - I don't care if he bashes the PS3, I'm pointing out his childish ways of sneaking it in every chance he gets.

4MyFriends @ May 14th 2008 5:36AM

For fuck sakes, do you guys have to troll and flame Fernando on every little comment he made? He didn't bash the PS3, he stated the obvious fact that the PS3 is just getting its ass kicked by the Wii in all categories, sadly including software.

SWAT Kats are back! @ May 14th 2008 9:27AM

No one ever calls out tmac, and he does it way more (and annoyingly, might I add.)

As i recall, samfish shut him down on that sometime in the past week, when he tried to say that MGS4 was a completely different game in the same breath as calling Mario Galaxy a hopeless rehash, or something

It was quite vindicating

CarpeD1em500 @ May 13th 2008 10:48PM

I see this picture and all I can think about is my yellow SNES...

Oh Ninty...those were the days...those were the days...

I really hope they changed their plastic from that generation. My black N64 and purple GC are safe, but with this white Wii, who knows what'll happen!

(I'm kidding btw, before I get a scientific post about why the Wii won't discolor...)