I don`t think there`s a chance that number is for this holiday period... period.
To have that number sold by 31st of December the console had to be in production for how long? Even if the number is correct, i`m pretty sure it tries to encompass the first quarter of 2013. And even than not all would be sold (time to ship, get to stores, etc.).

That's a bit gutsy, wouldn't you say? :P On the one hand, it's the first new gen in 6 years - and on the other hand people might wait a year for PS720...

No. Again Wii could have easily sold well over the 6m it was shipped world wide.

8m for Wii U is a good starting number given what the Wii, 3DS, and DS were capable of.

Worst case scenario is they reduce production orders for summer.

In it's prime, 2009 I think, Wii sold 7.5m in December. Not even when it was selling like never before it couldn't reach 8m

Wii was sold out for two years.Do you really think in its first holiday season it would have sold less than 8m?

Considering it sold sell than 8m in it's prime I'd be hard pressed to think it could have sold that much during it's first holiday...

BTW does any one know which console's had the best holiday season yet? Which system sold the most during the holidays? Just curious