With 3DS set to make waves in a matter of months, now seems about the right time for Nintendo to reveal just how well its predecessor did throughout the course of its lifetime.

It also happens to form part of Nintendo's third quarter financial report, which saw profits fall by 74 percent to $603 million after expenditure for the last nine months of 2010.

Strong sales

Regardless, Nintendo still managed to sell 15.7 million DS units in the same period, bringing total sales for all DS models since launch to 144.6 million.

 

Nintendo reports 23.5 million of those sold in the handheld's lifetime were DSis, while 9.43 million were DSi XLs.

It's worth repeating that such a sales tally makes DS the best selling console in history, with software sales also weighing in at an impressive 817.5 million.

Little wonder, then, that Nintendo is confident it can continue to enjoy the same level of success with 3DS.

The firm has 4 million units ready for the handheld's worldwide launch – Japan first to welcome 3DS on February 26, Europe following on March 25 with North America coming on board on March 27 – with game sales expected to hit 15 million by the end of the month.

[source: GamesIndustry.biz]