Nintendo DS Lite - UK Sales Figures Emerge

Official sales figures being dissected in the UK today outline the demand for Nintendo's DS Lite. The revised machine, undoubtedly a massive aesthetic improvement on the original design, launched last Friday across Europe.

Around 35,000 hardware units were snapped up by consumers in the UK, less than many pundits anticipated, though the figures represent a mere single weekend on sale. It's also worth pointing out that the vast majority of those picking up Lites will already have an original DS, further proof, as if it were needed, that Nintendo is the crowned king of selling and re-selling everything it creates. The sales of Lite were split almost equally between the black and white units.

It is interesting to note that sales of the original DS were not in any way hampered by the arrival of its more attractive younger sister, with sales week-on-week remaining unchanged, as the pink DS bundled with Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends continued to attract, we can only assume, young girls.

Of course, Nintendo will likely be a shade disappointed at these figures, given the rampant launch sales of its first DS console release, which clocked up 87,000 in its first weekend of availability. It is unknown if the massive theft of UK-bound Lite units caused any major shortages, or if gamers are simply awaiting the release of New Super Mario Bros before splashing out.