Wii and DS help Nintendo profits soar

The successful launch of the Wii and the continued strong performance of the DS has boosted Nintendo, with the company enjoying a 43 per cent rise in profits for the nine months ended December 31.

The company has recorded net profit of 131.9 billion yen (EUR 844.1m) in the first nine months of the fiscal year, up from 92.2 billion yen (EUR 590m) in the same period last year.

Sales climbed a massive 73 per cent to 712.6 billion yen (EUR 4.5bn) during April through to December, compared to 412.3 billion (EUR 2.63bn) the previous year.

Nineteen of Nintendo's software releases since April have sold over one million units, 13 of which were DS titles while three were for the Wii and three for the Game Boy Advance.

Sales of the Wii have reached 3.19 million units worldwide, according to Nintendo. 1.25 units have been sold in North America with 1.14 units sold in Japan.

Nintendo still expects to reach its target of six million global shipments by March 31, with seven million units manufactured by that date.