28 June 2005 – Consumers across Europe have picked the Nintendo DS as their console of choice with over one million consoles having flown off the shelves in just three months since launch.

Since the Nintendo DS launched in Europe on the 11th March 2005, it has achieved record-breaking sales - with 500,000 units sold in its first three weeks alone. From this point, Nintendo DS purchases have ’skyrocketed’ to shatter the one million mark in under three months. Worldwide, over five million consumers have already got to grips with the Nintendo DS, embracing its innovative touch-screen technology as the most original games console of this generation.

In the UK, Nintendo DS is also performing extremely well with well over 250,000 units already in the hands of gamers up and down the country.

Jim Merrick, Senior Director, European Marketing, Nintendo of Europe said:
‘The European launch of Nintendo DS has been a massive success with sales shattering all previous records in the opening weekend and remaining consistently strong. This product reflects Nintendo’s dedication to innovation and the advancement of gaming, providing novel and exciting new ways to play games. European consumers have adopted Nintendo’s sense of fun and innovation to give fantastic support to the Nintendo DS.’

The Nintendo DS looks set to go from strength to strength in 2005, with an incredibly strong line-up of software scheduled for release. nintendogs will let Nintendo DS owners care for and train their very own virtual puppy, teaching it tricks and voice commands, before showing off its abilities in dog trials. Racing fans will be able to hone their skills on a variety of tracks in the eagerly anticipated Mario Kart DS, whilst also challenging up to four friends to a wireless race over the internet and eight players on local wireless. Fans of fast paced puzzle games will love Meteos launching in September and the strategy based war simulator Advance Wars: Dual Strike (tentative title) completes Nintendo’s first-party compliment. Nintendo DS owners will also be spoilt for choice with a huge selection of fantastic third party titles including Bomber Man DS (Ubisoft), Golden Eye: Rogue Agent (EA), Castlevania DS (Konami), The Sims 2 (EA), Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA) and Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (Activision).