Nintendo has reported a 46% fall in quarterly profit due to lowering DS sales ahead of the upcoming 3DS launch in the coming months.
The strong yen and the fact that the new 3DS console wasn't ready in time for the festive buying season were partly to blame for the drop and reduction in sales forecasts.
Q3 operating profit (October - December) was down ¥104.6 billion ($1.3 billion), compared with ¥192.3 billion a year ago.Wii sales forecast for the fiscal year reduced to 16 million from an expected 17.5 million.DS sales forecast also lowered to 22.5 million from an expected 23.5 million units.Operating profit forecast left at ¥210 billion, compared to ¥356.6 billion the previous year. Lifetime sales for the DS range (as of December 31st 2010) are 144.59 million, with 817.49 million pieces of software sold since its release in 2004. Lifetime Wii sales are 84.64 million, with 695.37 million games sold since its release.