Looking at 3DS sales on VGC you can observe as follows:
Calendar year: 2011: 13 250 062
Calendar year: 2012: 14 406 901
Calendar year: 2013 so far: 11 900 000
Trends:
Week ending dec 08. 2012: 750 199 I Sales according to VGC: 07. 2013: 666 121
Week ending dec 15. 2012: 1 025 218 I Forecasted sales 14. 2013: 900 000
Week ending dec 22. 2012: 1 241 211 I Forecasted sales 21. 2013: 1 100 000
Week ending dec 29. 2012: 725 008 I Forecasted sales 28. 2013: 650 000
So, an estimated sales this calendar year is: 14 550 000
So if we go by sales for calendar year 2013, there is actually a chance that 3DS really WILL be down YOY. However, it could go either way. Looking at the GBA lifetime, i noticed that it actually peaked the year following the release of Pokemon. Not the year it was released. So following the trends stemming from GBA i conclude as follows:
If sales are up YOY this calendar year, the 3DS most likely will peak next year.
