Nintendo notes lower download rates in Australia, Europe

Nintendo has noticed that Japan and the US seem more keen on its digital offering than PAL territories like Europe and Australia.

As detailed in its second quarter financial report, Nintendo said that Japan has embraced 3DS digital sales most enthusiastically, with at least 15% of New Super Mario Bros 2 sales made through the eShop.

Other territories range from 3-10%, with the US being the next most digitally-minded, and Australia and Europe producing “relatively small” digital sales.

In fact, Nintendo CEO and president Satoru Iwata described both territories as taking up digital games at a “relatively mild” pace.

Interestingly, the global average for connected 3DS units is now 72%, a 10% jump on 2011.

This financial report sparked quite a few headline, with the big N copping to a loss over the first half of its financial year, which it blamed on weak 3DS sales. Nintendo made some bold predictions about Wii U sales, which might be expected to bring the financial year back into the black, but Michael Pachter has written its figures off as "highly unrealistic", and the console itself will sell at a loss.

Thanks, Kotaku.