TOKYO, Feb 21 — Nintendo’s newest handheld will turn one year old on February 26, the anniversary of its Japanese debut, and can celebrate its first anniversary having passed five million domestic sales.

That sort of performance puts it above a selection of Nintendo’s recent consoles over an equivalent period: the Wii, DS, and the Game Boy Advance.

Slicing 40 per cent from the device’s Japanese retail price in October pleased consumers, leading to a surge in sales, but hurt Nintendo’s bottom line, as evidenced by the manufacturer’s subdued annual financial forecasts.

North American retailers had sold four million 3DS units by 2011’s end; combined with estimates for other territories, Nintendo is thought to be close to 15 million consoles sold worldwide.

That puts it on a level with the original iPhone’s second year on sale — though Apple’s gadget shifted 93 million in 2011.

Nintendo’s birthday news comes just as Sony prepares to launch the PlayStation Vita in North America and Europe on February 22, boasting online connectivity and the potential for cross-platform play with the PlayStation 3. — AFP/Relaxnews