DSi sells nearly 100,000 in two days

By Robert Purchese Published 7 April, 2009

Outdoes all other hardware combined.

Nintendo's DSi has sold 92,000 units after just two days on UK shelves, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The redesigned handheld outsold all other hardware in the region combined, enjoying the fourth-largest hardware launch in UK history.

Retailers had touted impressive pre-order figures for the new handheld - an upgrade over the DS Lite that has bigger and brighter screens, two cameras, more on-board memory, an SD memory card slot and online store to download games from.

The DSi costs GBP 149.99, and you can find our in-depth impressions of the hardware elsewhere on Eurogamer.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Zaltan #1 3 years ago

    One of those is mine! I'm really happy with it up to now. Though I only have Chrono Trigger and Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow so far. I don't know if I should buy Pokemon Diamond/Pearl or wait for Platinum...

  • danathjo #2 3 years ago

    was kinda tempted to up/downgrade my lite but after hearing the rumour about the maybe new PSP at the end of the year...i'll hold back

  • Xerx3s #3 3 years ago

    I'm with sony on this one. It doesn't offer me anything that makes me want to buy it. The psp4k on the other hand...

  • berelain #4 3 years ago

    I just don't get it. If I didn't have a DS, I might be tempted, but for the inflated price tag I'd rather own a PSP or an original DS. The DSi just doesn't offer anything of interest to me. Maybe it will in the future, but I still doubt I'll be willing to shell out £150 for it, and you can bet Nintendo won't drop the price anytime soon. or ever.

  • Gaol #5 3 years ago

    Crazy.

  • LazyDan #6 3 years ago

    What were the top 3 largest launches in UK history then?!

  • bluem4gic #7 3 years ago

    149.99 WHY

    Game deal apparently does not give you cash back if you turn in your old ds

    instead they give you store vouchers to use which despise

    Cant remember the last time a bought a title from game

    etailers for me

  • superted1974 #8 3 years ago

    Did no one get the freaking memo!

    There is a worldwide recession on the go - why are people buying these things
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 14:44

  • Petulant_Radish #9 3 years ago

    "What were the top 3 largest launches in UK history then?! "

    PSP, PS3 & the Wii. Not sure in what order though, and it probably didn't beat Campbells Condensed Soup either.

  • Santino #10 3 years ago

    i traded in my lite and some games and got mine, it's a very nice piece of kit. now get more art style games on dsi ware now!

  • ryohazuki1983 #11 3 years ago

    Lot of parents being nagged then trading in DS Lite and paying 75quid on top, madness, not getting that much for your money IMO.

    Hats off to ninty tho for being able to make a load of cash from Wii and DS; then figuring out a way to fleece people even more by "upgrading" to DSi.

    £150 is crazy IMO, can get a good deal on a 360 for £10 more with multiple games. Or buy an arcade with £20 change. It's a smart move on their part by making it so high as they don't have to drop the price of DS Lite.

  • Weezer #12 3 years ago

    Made the most of the Game DS Lite trade in. Nice new gadget is always good, but now waiting for the DS store to kick in with some decent downloads hat don't look like Flash games.

    EDIT: In case I sound mental, I traded in the DS Lite because after drowning it in the bath, I sent it to these useless fuckers to repair…

    [link url=http://www.console sandgadgets.com/
    ]http://www.console sandgadgets.com/
    [/link]

    After one scratched screen which looked like it had been installed by Edward Brillohands and then a replacement LCD with at least two dead pixels (clearly second hand) I thought fuck it and went for the offer instead.
    Edited by 2 at 07/04/09 @ 15:22

  • JeroenZM #13 3 years ago

    I don't own a lite so the 'upgrade' felt more natural to me. However, it's quite disappointing that there is not a single specific DSi game on the shelves right now, not even by Nintendo.

  • DiscoMike #14 3 years ago

    What pissed me off with the DSi, is that the unit itself supports modern WiFi encryption like WPA, but the games (i tried GTA) still only work with WEP.

  • ryohazuki1983 #15 3 years ago

    @JeroenZM

    Thats true, 100,000 sold despite the fact theres aren't any games for it, now that really is insane!
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 15:58

  • RexRunti #16 3 years ago

    Take note MS and Sony. It's not about the hardware or the quality of the games just as long as you have a a range of celebraties (ranging from AAA like Nicole Kidman to Z like that girl who used be in a girl band and married that footballer, no not posh spice, no not Cheyl Cole she's still in a girl band... the one from eternal... Louise Redknapp) shown using the things.

  • Bitkari #17 3 years ago

    Still after the negativity about the price and need for it the sales figure is surprising.

    Negativity amongst gamers, and the specialist press.

    Your average DSi consumer cares not for the opinions of hardcore gamers, and will gladly shell out for the latest Nintendo hardware iteration.

    Mmm, shiny.

  • schnide #18 3 years ago

    Even if a lot of hardcore (pssst, I said it!) gamers were venomous about the price of this, and I don't especially understand why, who the hell has been waiting out this long to get a DS and was suddenly persuaded - and in such numbers as this?

  • darc #19 3 years ago

    I did NOT see that coming. I'll bet the majority of those sales were to owners of DSLites. I wonder how many Lites were traded in toward those sales.

    Always amazed by the sales trends I read about in the midst of "devastating economic times".

  • penhalion #20 3 years ago

    Not so impressed really. I think game put the high sales down to people simply trading in their old DS' to get the new one half price. They don't seem to sure that they can sustain these sales figures over the next few weeks.

    I wonder what kind of hit Game actually took on that offer.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #21 3 years ago

    "£150 is crazy IMO, can get a good deal on a 360 for £10 more with multiple games. Or buy an arcade with £20 change. It's a smart move on their part by making it so high as they don't have to drop the price of DS Lite. "

    Tell me more, I'd love a portable 360 that plays DS style games.
    It's a smart move because Japan's economy is shite right now.

  • Lionheart #22 3 years ago

    Yes 92,000 of them Simon!
    I was planning on getting a DS Lite next week... is it worth spending an extra 50 quid and buy a DSi in a colour i don't even really want?

  • stevetuck #23 3 years ago

    does the R4 work on the DSi? :p

  • septimus #24 3 years ago

    Rip-off. Not surprised it sold well, kids and grannies love it.

  • Tomo #25 3 years ago

    Blimey. Colour me surprised too.

  • Burkey123 #26 3 years ago

    I have a lite so won't be upgrading.........yet. The minute DSWare hits its stride and DSi specific games come out, I'll be straight down to GAME to buy it! :)

  • secombe #27 3 years ago

    £150 is crazy IMO, can get a good deal on a 360 for £10 more with multiple games. Or buy an arcade with £20 change. It's a smart move on their part by making it so high as they don't have to drop the price of DS Lite.

    You must be having a laugh? Do you really think anyone (or hardly anyone) with £150 in their pocket wanting a DSi would pick up a 360 instead?! Not sure what planet you're on, but approx. 7 in 10 people seem to have DS' at my work, and they are always sat in the canteen or staff room playing them at lunchtime...would love to see them trying that on a 360.

    I imagine many people see their DS as incredible value considering how much most people I know actually play on them, £150 isn't a big deal.

    Anyhow, I'm sold as soon as a few killer DSi Shop games come along worth getting as I only have a DS Fat at the moment. I have a feeling that will take off big time within a few months.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 19:19

  • Lawlost #28 3 years ago

    Bloody hell i thought this would fall flat on its face. I thought everyone had bought either the DS or DS Lite who is buying it.

  • thewool #29 3 years ago

    Nintendo are the new Sony. I'm not buying.

  • smelly #30 3 years ago

    "Still after the negativity about the price and need for it the sales figure is surprising. "

    Not really - the only negativity has been on internet forums - and internet forum posters are by in large complete f-wits whose opinions count for f-all.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #31 3 years ago

    This will go for £200 on a certain auction site if Nintendo can't meet demand.
    Pink DS phats were hitting 180 notes the xmas they came out.

  • Kazzahdrane #32 3 years ago

    What pissed me off with the DSi, is that the unit itself supports modern WiFi encryption like WPA, but the games (i tried GTA) still only work with WEP.

    Oh Nintendo...

  • IneptPercy #33 3 years ago

    Is it just me as a DS lite owner who just sees this as a waste of my money?... hence no sale to me.

  • drumbaby #34 3 years ago

    WHYYYYYYYYYY?????????????!!!!!!!!!!

  • jiveguy #35 3 years ago

    I had a feeling this would be a big seller after I spotted three tweenage girls in HMV exclaiming "OH...MY...GAWD...It's a DS with a CAMERA!"