Nintendo: Wii grabs top spot in next-gen console wars

Nintendo's Wii is now said to be the top-selling next-generation video game console in the United States, having reached 10.9 million units sold during the month of June.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

On Monday morning in Los Angeles, attendees at Microsoft's E3 press conference heard Xbox head Don Mattrick "declare" that that video game console would win the so-called next-generation console war.

But if the latest sales data put out by NPD mean anything, Microsoft's road to victory could be a little harder. That's because, according to Nintendo, the Wii in June surpassed the Xbox 360 to become the best-selling next-generation console in the United States.

According to Nintendo, NPD's numbers show that during June, the Wii hit 10.9 million units sold in the U.S.

In May, Microsoft announced the Xbox had hit 10 million units sold first, a milestone the company said has historically been reached by each console generation's eventual winner. And in its quarterly earnings release Thursday, Microsoft said it had sold 1.3 million Xboxes during the last quarter. But it's been clear for some time that the Wii is outselling both the Xbox and Sony's PlayStation 3 on a monthly basis. And given that the Xbox has been out a full year longer than the Wii or the PS3, Nintendo's news is all the more noteworthy.

Of course, in an interview Tuesday, Shane Kim, Microsoft's corporate vice president of strategy and business development for Microsoft's interactive entertainment business unit, told me that Mattrick's declaration applied only to the battle between the Xbox and the PS3. Mattrick himself didn't make any such clarifications during the press conference.

And in Kim's defense, it's true that most people think of the Xbox and the PS3 as being in a different category of video game console than the Wii, despite all three often being lumped together.

Additionally, Microsoft and Sony both surely have their own positive spins on NPD's numbers, though I haven't gotten those missives yet. Nintendo wins this round, at least, for quickest NPD-related press release (that I got, at least).

Either way, you have to tip your hat to Nintendo for the success of the Wii, and for the console's having reached the top spot in the U.S. For now, at least. Who knows what the next press release will say.

[jadkins555]

Your article is factullay incorrect. Don Mattrick specifically stated during the conference on Monday that the Xbox 360 would outsell the PS3. He made no mention of Nintendo.

[jadkins555]

Fyi, here is the part where Mattrick specifically states they will outsell the PS3. Go to about 30 seconds into the clip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=29C1hWT_NAE&feature=related

[GotGamedotcom]

Many times these numbers can be deceiving because of the differences in release time. Technically, I think the PS2 is still the best selling console in terms of total numbers sold.

[jschools]

You are obviously Illiterate. Tell me since when is a ps2 one of the 3 next gen consoles.

[NewsReader_]

I own both a Wii and a 360 and am very happy with both. The 360 gets more time in my house but we generally have more fun together playing the Wii.

No PS3 in sight and it will likely stay that way. This is a 2 horse race now. Microsoft's partnership with Netflix trumps native Blu-ray support in the PS3.

[Dysfunction817]

Trumps? Sure.

[jschools]

You have always been able to play netflix movies on your xbox through vista premium / ultimate.

[Rod Roddy]

I believe it. One major sticking point...Price. Both the 360 and PS3 are still rather expensive consoles given that they've both been out for about three years now, add some expensive software, and subscriptions to XBOX Live for example and your sure to have people jump on the less pricey Wii bandwagon. I also agree with NewsReader, this is a two horse race. Sorry Sony.

[Gage13]

I agree with most others that the Wii is in a different catagory. In fact, I would also claim that their is more to the console wars than just straight up units sold. Look at the software sold for each console. Xbox is dominating with nearly 65% of the total software purchased was for the XBox 360.

I myself am a bit fed up with the Wii. I understand that they are focusing on the casual gamers, but as a gamer I would appreciate being thrown a bone once in a while. If the biggest game they have in developement is Wii Music, I might as well box up my Wii and but it in the basement until sometime in '09.

[celticbrewer]

"Microsoft's partnership with Netflix trumps native Blu-ray support in the PS3. "

hahah.. in what world? I love netflix (which is where I get my BR discs); but of the 157 movies I have in queue, only 14 are available "on demand"

Back to the story, Wii should definitely be included in this race. Just because it doesn't have hidef doesn't mean it isn't "NextGen." I've played on all 3 consoles, and Wii is by far the most fun for games. PS3 is the most capable. And XBox... well, I guess if you like playing FPS online (Which I hate), then I guess that's for you. Although my x360 friends now only seem to play rock band and GH3 on their consoles, which I can play on my old PS2.

[jadkins555]

Almost every big game for the PS3 is a FPS. I'd argue that it is much more a shooter box at this point than the Xbox 360. Look at some of Sony's most hyped games: Resistance, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Haze, M.A.G., Socom Confrontation, Call of Duty 4, etc.