Nintendo 3DS beats Xbox 360 as top selling platform in U.S. for May 2013

The Nintendo 3DS was the best-selling video game hardware platform in the United States for May 2013, a feat accomplished for the first time in the system's lifespan. The achievement was noted in this month's NPD Group report, followed by a Nintendo press release.

The 3DS edged out the Xbox 360 as the top selling platform for the 4-week period spanning from May 5, 2013 through June 1, 2013; however, the Xbox 360 remained the top-selling console hardware platform, for the twenty-ninth consecutive month.

“The 3DS had the best year-over-year trending for hardware units, with units sales essentially flat from last May," NPD noted. May saw the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D as well as another strong month for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Combined, the two helped Nintendo 3DS software sales in stores increase by more than 60% over the same time last year. Nintendo 3DS also had two of the top three best-selling software SKUs for the month, with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at No. 2 and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon at No. 3.

Nintendo will look to build upon this momentum with the release of several highly anticipaed 3DS titles including Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Aug. 11), Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (Oct. 12) Mario Party for Nintendo 3DS (name not final, November) and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (November).