In case you had any doubt that the Nintendo 3DS is alive and well, Famitsu recently published some sales data (via NeoGAF) showing that the handheld console has sold over 20 million units in Japan since February 2011. For comparison, the Wii U has sold less than 11 million units worldwide as of late October. 

These new numbers make the 3DS the fourth best-selling console in Japan’s history, kicking the Famicom/NES down to fifth.

The original Nintendo DS is still number one on the list, having sold 32.86 million units. Second and third are the Game Boy/Game Boy Color and the PlayStation 2 with 32.27 million and 21.98 million units sold, respectively.

This is notably only true in Japan–worldwide, the PlayStation 2 is in first place, with the Nintendo DS following closely behind.


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Courtney is Pixelkin's Associate Managing Editor. While working with the Girl Scouts of Northern California, she mentored young girls in teamwork, leadership, personal responsibility, and safety. Today, she spends her time studying adolescent development and using literary analysis techniques to examine video games.Keezy is a gamer, illustrator, and designer. Her background is in teaching and tutoring kids from ages 9 to 19, and she's led workshops for young women in STEM. She is also holds a certificate in teaching English. Her first memory of gaming is when her dad taught her to play the first Warcraft when she was five. You can find her at Key of Zee and on Twitter @KeezyBees.