Japan: Nintendo 3DS Takes Top Spot on Strength of Zelda Launch

The Nintendo 3DS handheld has managed to take over the top position in the Japanese hardware sales chart, a performance that had eluded the device for the last few months, powered by the launch of the well known remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

The Nintendo 3DS has managed to sell 40,649 units during the week that ended on June 19, according to information that has been compiled by tracking firm Media Create, which is significantly more than the 24,649 that it managed during the previous seven day period.

The PlayStation Portable also saw an increase in sales during the week but it was a smaller one, going up from 26,750 to just 31,796, which was enough to secure second place.

The PlayStation 3 has become pretty accustomed to third place in the Japanese hardware chart, managing to post sales of 16,081 units, which is a little bit less than the 17,104 for the previous week.

The Nintendo DS line up is in fourth place, on sales that are a little over 10,000 units while the Wii has taken fifth place, again below the 7,000 sales mark.

The Xbox 360 sold better than the PlayStation 2.

Surprisingly the new The Legend of Zelda video game has not managed to be the best selling title of the week, according to Media Create.

That honor went to Little Battles Xperience from Level 5, which managed to move 166,187 copies to gamers during its first week on sale.

The Nintendo 3DS exclusive The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D has managed to sell 164,110 units to take second place in the chart while Yakuza: Off the End, the SEGA published mix between Japanese gangsters and zombies, has gone down to third place from first, with sales of 53,775.

The rest of the top ten is made up of: Steins Gate: Hiyoku Renri no Darling, Steins Gate: Double Pack, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 – Professional, Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS, Wii Party and One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP.