Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, noted that digital sales of the 3DS continue to rise, with 67 percent of all Nintendo 3DS owners connected to the internet. Fire Emblem Awakening has sold 240,000 units life-to-date in the U.S. with 33 percent of those in digital form.
“We have 15 Nintendo-published titles available, both physically and digitally [on the 3DS]. So far in 2013, of those 15 available in this format, 11 percent of sales have come through full digital downloads of those games,” says Fils-Aime. “Through that connected experience, consumers have downloaded more than 41 million items from the eShop – everything from full games to applications like Nintendo video, DLC, demos, free items, and more.”
Nintendo also reported that the 3DS has sold 8 million hardware units in the U.S. or 1 million more than its predecessor during its first two years. “When the NPD numbers come out later this week, you’re going to see life-to-date 3DS game sales surpass 20 million units in the U.S.,” says Fils-Aime. “And that’s just physical. It doesn’t include digital sales. … So far in 2013 – through April 15 – 3DS game sales are up 55 percent versus last year, counting both physical and digital.”
Source: GamesIndustry International
