3DS sales tracking ahead of Game Boy Advance in Japan

3DS sales are outpacing those of its prescursor, the Game Boy Advance, suggesting the new portable may be bound for greater successes.

As reported last week, the 3DS recently passed 15 million sales in Japan.

Drawing on Media Create figures, Siliconera pointed out that the 3DS managed this feat in its 154th week on sale.

The Game Boy Advance, on the other hand, had only managed to shift 11.64 million units in the same period, so the 3DS is significantly outpacing it.

We're comparing the 3DS to the Game Boy Advance rather than its immediate precursor the DS because the DS is the best-selling portable console of all time, among various other sales records. At its 154th week, the DS had sold through over 20 million units.

Well, we can't all be the 2DS, and it's worth noting that the 3DS is playing catch up a little bit after a rocky start; Nintendo's savvy early price cut and continued software support have turned the console's fortunes around, to our great surprise and pleasure.

The company expects the 3DS to lead its financial performance this year, as the Wii U continues to plod along in an uninspiring fashion.