Wii surpasses 360 in North America, staffers too busy playing 360 to write article

by Cory Birdsong on

t is a day Nintendorks have long dreamed of: On July 17, Nintendo announced that sales of the Wii have passed Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in North America, becoming the region’s clear market leader. In the month of June, Nintendo sold 666,700 Wiis, taking the system’s total sales to about 10.9 million. For reference, the 360’s total North American sales, including their year headstart, are around 10.3 million, including their comparatively paltry 219,800. Sony, for their part, are doing better, with a PS3 sales bump thanks to Metal Gear Solid 4, and continuing strong PSP sales, but both are still in a third and second place behind their competitiors. (Full NPD numbers available after the jump.)

However, this number only underscores Nintendo’s E3 presentation, or rather, what Nintendo had to become to get to this point. In order to regain their position as the market leader, they’ve all but abandoned the sorts of games that have kept them afloat all these years. The Nintendo of 2006, showing things like Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, Elite Beat Agents, and Yoshi’s Island 2, is all but gone. Hope you’re getting used to the Nintendo of 2008.

June 2008 Hardware Sales

* Nintendo DS — 783,000

* Wii — 666,700

* PlayStation 3 — 405,500

* PSP — 337,4000

* Xbox 360 — 219,800

* PlayStation 2 — 188,800

June 2008 Software Sales

  1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) — 774,600

  2. Guitar Hero On Tour (DS) — 422,300

  3. Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) — 372,700

  4. Wii Fit (Wii) — 372,700

  5. Wii Play (Wii) – 359,100

  6. Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360) — 346,800

  7. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) — 322,400

  8. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (Wii) — 294,500

  9. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (DS) — 267,800

  10. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (PS2) — 260,300