In a recent press release online-retail giant Amazon has confirmed that the Nintendo 3DS has become its most pre-ordered console to date.
Announced this week, the 3DS has overtaken the PlayStation 3 — which previously held the title — gaining 20 percent more pre-order sales.
The handheld also ousted its Nintendo-born brother and sister, gaining 56 percent more pre-orders than the Nintendo Wii and an incredible 225 percent more than its predecessor the Nintendo DSi.
Chris Poad, Director of Video Games at Amazon.co.uk Ltd. commented:
"It’s unusual for a handheld console to attract this amount of excitement in the run up to launch, such high levels of interest are normally reserved for the play-at-home hardware like the ground-breaking Nintendo Wii and last year’s Microsoft Kinect.
"Nintendo 3DS is launching at a time when interest in all things 3D is incredibly high and with the promise of real 3D graphics without glasses, it’s a real breakthrough in handheld video game entertainment."
As well as the console itself, the titles Super Monkey Ball 3D, Rayman 3D, Super Street Fighter IV, Ridge Racer 3D and Pilot Wings Resort are also occupying spots in Amazon’s top 20 Hot Future Releases.
Set to be released March 25 in Europe and March 27 in North Amercia, if pre-order statistics are anything to go by, then the Nintendo 3DS already seems set to be one of the most successful handhelds of all time.
Whether the line-up of launch-titles — which many critics have questioned — will be enough to cement this initial success remains to be seen. Share your thoughts and 3DS related desires in the comments section below.