Nintendo 3ds, Portable Console | featured news

Nintendo has sold 4.5 million 3DS units, its latest hand-held device, in the U.S., setting what the company said was potential momentum for its next big product, the Wii U console.

It’s astounding to think that just a few years ago, the Nintendo DS and the PSP were the lone mobile devices that gamers had to choose from. It must have been nice for Sony and Nintendo, to only have each other to compete with.

The 3DS has continued to gain momentum, crossing four million units sold in the U.S. thanks to strong sales of Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land.

The 3DS is Nintendo's follow-up to its successful and incredibly lucrative DS console. The new handheld launched last Sunday with the typical tech-demo titles like Pilotwings Resort, Steel Diver, and Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. And the glasses-free 3D effects selling point? Very effective.

Nintendo has done its best to launch a new era in video games with the launch of its 3DS portable gaming system, which goes on sale for $249 on Sunday. The appeal of this device, which can display games in stereoscopic 3D without glasses, is growing on me. But I’m not sure it’s the greatest thing since the iPhone.