It would have to have everything go perfect to be up YoY so I agree with u, either flat or slight drop (10-15%) is what I'm guessing. New 3DS release should cause it to be up for 2-3 months and if they have some big software ready for the summer, 1-2 more months could be up. But ya total year sales likely won't be up.

Given it dropped from 3.8 to 2.5m this year, I think we could be looking at a bigger drop than 10% - 15%.

1.5m isn't out of the equation.

I personally predict around 2m tho~

Yes but like I noted, the first 9 months of the year didn't really have any real big sellers. Tomodachi is the best selling title to release in the first 3 quarters and according to this site it's under 500k in the US. Smash Bros and Pokémon were the only really big sellers to release this year and both released in the last quarter.

New 3DS is bound to cause a couple months to be up YoY and depending on what software they release and when, we could see certain other months be up.

2013 had 11 games release that sold over 250k with 4 of them selling over 1 million, 2014 has had 6 250k sellers with only 2 selling over 1 million. So lack of big selling software definitely contributed to this year's big decline. If 2014 had software releases on par with 2013 then the decline could have very well been less.

If next year can keep up with this year in terms of big releases plus New 3DS releasing, a smaller drop is very likely.

I think 2015>2014 First half of the year as well if and only if all those known 3ds games releases first half of the year with the N3DS launching no later than March.

As for system sellers, the 3ds has already sold to the majority of those who ever wanted a 3DS. So a pokemon in June (this wont happen, just making an example) would definitely push up from an avg 70-80k month, but only so much (like a 15-20% boost).

Now if N3DS gets some exclusives, then depending on wat it is *cough Metroid 3D *cough... we'll have some system sellers again and have a chance to be up YoY. 

There is also the fact that amiibo cards/figurines could work with the next pokemon exclusively with N3DS. If thats the case for next holiday............ I think It'll have a decent chance at 3mil for next year.

As of now my guess is around 2.25mil

2014 sales aren't so high for 3DS to not being insuperable with the release of a revision!
For instance new 3ds/xl stop a 50% decline in Japan,3DS at most was yoy up after new3ds/xl release,and one week(51) negligibly yoy down!

It is on the same pace with dsi in Japan,of course this for sure doesn't mean that will outsell it!
I think that sales since late august and smash bros 3ds very low boost in Japan,then doubling boost in USA and EU but essentially weak boost,are showing that there are people who were/are waiting new 3ds/xl!
I feel it will have same sales with 2013,worst scenario is same sales with 2014!Zorg,in your opinion,couldn't a vast amount of current 3DS owners jump to new3ds/xl?Isn't this a huge advantage?
We don't know the strategy that nintendo will follow,it might make some moves to force old 3ds/xl owners to upgrade!

It can, IF Yokai Watch takes off in the west.

That's a very big if, with very big implications.

Wanna bet?

Nopes.

prediction on sales?

1.75M.