Nintendo: 3DS UK launch sales beat both Wii and DS

Nintendo has confirmed that 3DS sold 303,000 units across Europe and 113,000 units in its opening weekend on sale in the UK, beating the British launches of both Wii and DS.

The figures are not attributed to Chart-Track, but to a "Nintendo UK internal Sell-thru Panel".

3DS's predecessor, Nintendo DS, sold around 87,000 units in its first weekend in the UK in 2005.

Sony's PSP set a UK record for opening sales in 2005 with 185,000 units shifted at launch, a figure that's never been bested.

PlayStation 3 moved 165,000 units in Britain in its first weekend on sale in 2007, beating both Wii and 360 out of the gate.

Wii sold 105,000 units in its opening 48 hours in the UK in 2006. Xbox 360 debuted in Britain with 70,000 units sold in 2005.

Nintendo UK marketing manager James Honeywell said last week that the company expected to sell "comfortably over 150,000, if not more like 200,000" 3DS units in Britain last week, based on confirmed pre-orders of 140,000.

Nintendo UK promised pre-launch that no-one would go wanting for a 3DS unit last week.

Nintendo of America has already confirmed that 3DS's US launch beat that of DS, but has so far failed to announce a specific figure.

3DS launched in Europe last Friday, and in the US on Sunday.