Nintendo to ramp up Wii production

A Nintendo spokesperson has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the company plans to increase Wii production as demand for the console continues to outstrip supply.

"For the first three months of this year we have been producing one million hardware units per month. We are increasing the manufacturing capacity and forecast to ship 14 million in this fiscal year to our distributors and retail customers globally," the spokesperson said.

"We have put solid production plans in place to ensure a steady flow of product through 2007. We are constantly replenishing Wii supplies. However, with such high demand, stock is still flying off shelves so consumers should continue to be in touch with their local retailers to confirm when new stock is arriving."

The comments came after Nintendo released year-end financial results, announcing that 5.84 million Wii units have been sold so far. However, the console is still in short supply across many territories.

When asked when Nintendo expects the shortages to subside the spokesperson said, "We are increasing our production capacity of Wii units, but with the unprecedented demand for the console we can’t predict that at this time."