Nintendo hardware slumps in the US

Nintendo hardware is having a torrid time in the key US market, according to a new report, with Wii sales hitting an all-time low and the 3DS failing to find any kind of momentum.

According to the report from market analysts Wedbush Securities, dug up by GamesIndustry.biz, the Wii sold 236,000 units in May, down nearly 30 per cent year-on-year. In comparison, the Xbox 360 moved 270,000 (up 39 per cent) while the PlayStation 3 managed 175,000 (up 14 per cent).

Exact figures for the 3DS weren't included, though the document noted "3DS hardware sales were well below our 180,000 unit estimate in its third month (down 50 per cent from its second month)."

And 3DS software seems to be faring equally poorly. "We were disappointed to see the tie ratio for the 3DS continue to be weak at around 2:1, surely an all-time low for a new hardware launch."

Wedbush's report did end on an optimistic note for the Nintendo handheld however, noting that its strong holiday line-up could help turn the tide. Mario Kart, Super Mario 3DS, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Star Fox 64 3D and Kid Icarus are all expected before year's end, with Luigi's Mansion, Resident Evil: Revelations, Animal Crossing and Paper Mario also on the horizon.

For more US sales number-crunching, take a look at our monthly NPD report published yesterday.