Nintendo 3DS hardware and game sales continue to impress

While the Wii U is struggling to find its place within the gaming market, the 3DS has quickly established itself as the premiere handheld gaming device (behind smartphones, that is). In reporting a disappointing third quarter for the fiscal year, Nintendo revealed some impressive sales figures for the 3DS.

For starters, 3DS hardware sales for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2013 totaled 11.65 million units. While down from 12.71 million units sold during the same period last year, it's still a remarkably impressive number. The 3DS has now sold over 42 million units worldwide since its launch.

Things get even brighter when you look at 3DS software which totaled 57.25 million units sold for the period. For the nine-month period, Pokémon X & Y recorded 11.61 million units in sales globally. Animal Crossing: New Leaf sold 2.79 million units in the United States and Europe, with 3.52 million units sold worldwide. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team also topp the one million mark, hitting 1.54 million units in the two regions combined and  2 million units worldwide. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds achieved 1.85 million units in the U.S. and Europe, with 2.18 million copies sold worldwide.

Despite the 3DS becoming the best-selling platform of the 2013 calendar year in the U.S., Nintendo noted that overseas sales in the year-end sales season showed "limited growth." Earlier this month, Nintendo revised its sales projections for the fiscal year, lowing 3DS sales expectations from 80 million to 66 million. Things get even more grim when you look at the Wii U.