Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Wii Becomes Fastest-Selling Console Ever

Nintendo boss credits 50M milestone to gaming's move into the mainstream

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2009 1:42 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Nintendo Wii has passed the 50 million milestone to beat out Playstation 2 as the fastest-selling game console, the BBC reports. The massive sales were beyond expectations, Nintendo boss Saturo Iwata said yesterday at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. He credited Wii's success to gaming's solid move into the mainstream.

"It's a cliché, but it's not just the 18-year-old kid" playing games now, he said. "It's the mom on the train, it's the high-school girl after she's done with her homework. Everyone plays games." Iwata announced some upgrades to the Wii, including a new storage system that will allow users to store and play Wii games from high-capacity SD cards.

A model  plays tennis with Nintendo's Wii console in this file photo.
A model plays tennis with Nintendo's Wii console in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata delivers the keynote address at the Game Developers Conference yesterday in San Francisco.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata delivers the keynote address at the Game Developers Conference yesterday in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata delivers the keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco yesterday.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata delivers the keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco yesterday.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The great depression in the 1930s resulted in the jet engine, TV and chocolate chip cookies. The future of video games is in your hands and I can't wait for you to show us your surprises. - Nintendo CEO Saturo Iwata

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne