Iwata: Wii and DS "population" could yet double, no new consoles soon

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has told investors - in a Q&A related to the company's 2008 full-year figures - that Wii and DS's audience may even double before the consoles are done.

"Numerically there is still a possibility to even double the current user population of Wii and DS," he said.

"Thus we do not believe at all that the expansion has come to an end nor do we need a new console any time soon."

Iwata said in the same session that 209 million people actively use current gen Nintendo hardware.

The exec went on to trot out the usual stuff about the fact Nintendo's R&D bods are constantly working on new hardware.

"Of course our employees are researching hardware and those in charge of hardware are already working on developing it," he added.

"When our internal ideas and trend in the world match up, and when it's clear that we would be able to manufacture an abundant amount at an affordable price, we will be able to publicly speak about next hardware.

"At this time, we do not think that is in the near future."

Wii HD? Doesn't sound like it, does it?