http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=701305

I was looking through this thread and decided to add up handheld & console totals to see the increase/decrease per generation and was a bit surprised at the result.

Game & Watch+NES-105 million

Gameboy (Pre-Pokemon)+SNES-101 million

Gameboy (Post-Pokemon)+N64 -104 million

Gameboy Advance+Gamecube-103 million

Nintendo DS+Wii-253 million

Nintendo 3DS+Wii U-roughly 60 million thus far

The DS/Wii era was a beast, which we all know, but the surprising part to me is how incredibly consistant Nintendo hardware sold over the course of four generations, each sold 100-105 million. This made me wonder if 3DS+Wii U can sell in that range.

Nintendo will release shipment figures in about two weeks, which should see 3DS+Wii U in the ballpark of 60 million. Both devices have a couple years left in them but currently it doesn't look they will hit 100 million combined, although 80 million should be a lock. I guess it all depends on how long they support them before successors release and if New 3DS/Wii U price cut along with continued software support can keep sales relatively steady.

I think 3DS + Wii U will be around the 90 million mark. That's 75 million 3DS, 15 million Wii U.

The gameboy pre and post pokemon has confused me. If they are same console why are they counted twice?

The 3DS and Wii U will be the first time Nintendo sells less than 100 million consoles in total with handheld and home consoles counted, which is not terrific news seeing how much the industry has grown over the decades. Then again; even when an industry grows, some will take a hit now and then and it is nothing out of the ordinary and still a little ways away from a disaster.
If the trend continues or even accelerates for the 9th gen; then it's a disaster.

It really is fascinating that the sales are so consistent though, but if anything; these numbers show just how important the handheld division is to Nintendo and it doesn't take a huge amount of thinking to see why they have been focusing on the 3DS and still are with their Directs.

Nice to see that Pokémon was able to fill the hole that was left by the third party developers.

Oh ok maybe he should off split them gameboy colour then not pokemon

I still stand by the WiiU selling at least 20m, 3DS could sell 80m but I'm not too sure.

Gameboy launched in 1989, Pokemon released in 1996, and Gameboy Advance in 2001. Pokemon is a nice middle point and is what caused Gameboy to become a two-gen handheld.

it kind of was a new gen for it.  Gameboy Color+Pokemon surge gave it a second wind.  Also Nintendo didn't come out with a new handheld with N64 so it's a good dividing point to still give the N64 some handheld sales.

Ya I don't they will make it, 3DS-65m Wii U-15m is my guess so 80-85m total. It's a massive decline from last gen but a modest decline compared to all other gens, so like u said not a disaster yet. Nintendo has made some foolish mistakes with 3DS/Wii U so if they learn from those mistakes, don't make brand new ones, and market their devices properly than I strongly believe they can return to the 100 million range.

Of course handhelds are important, but their consoles are as well, NES outsold Game & Watch, SNES outsold Gameboy on a consistant basis when they were both the primary devices on the market. N64 contributed to 1/3 of the hardware sales that gen. More like it shows how important Pokemon was to building and retaining their handheld market.

I'm really interested with what Nintendo's plans are for next-gen.