GAME and GameStation report 40% drop in Wii and DS sales

UK super retailers GAME and GameStation are reporting a 40 percent drop in Nintendo hardware sales year-to-date on both DS and Wii.

While Nintendo hardware is on the down slope at the stores, hardware sales for PS3 are up 17 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, and unit sales of Xbox 360 are up 16 percent.

"The July launch of the remodeled Microsoft Xbox 360 250GB was the principal event in the year so far and GAME was Microsoft’s lead European retail partner,” said company chairman Peter Lewis. "The first half release schedule was dominated by core gamer titles such as Red Dead Redemption and Battlefield Bad Company 2.

"GAME took a leading market share on these products, reflecting the strength of our relationship with suppliers, our core gamer appeal and customer recognition of the value of our new release offer.

"Sony has recently launched new models of the PS3 Slim and Nintendo is expected to release the handheld 3DS in Europe next year. Initial reviews of this technology have been very positive."

Lewis also expects PS3 and Xbox 360 sales to take another upswing with newly launched Move and the upcoming release of Kinect. However, the chairman feels neither peripheral will reach full market potential until new software titles are released next year.

Still, Lewis expects growth in sales for both Sony and Microsoft products as Christmas looms near, with the later already "generating good pre-orders".

Thanks MCV.