Mario Kart 7

Nintendo's 3DS was the dominant force at Japanese retail last month, its games occupying the top three spots, and half of the top ten overall. Leading the pack was Mario Kart 7, with sales of 388,760 units between December 26 and January 29, according to Enterbrain data passed along by Andriasang. More >

More than five million copies of 3DS platformer Super Mario 3D Land have been sold worldwide since its launch in November, Nintendo has announced. It means Mario's 3DS debut is the first game to cross the five million barrier, though figures released alongside Nintendo's latest financial results show Mario Kart 7 isn't far behind. The kart racer, which has been number one in Japan for five of the last six weeks, is currently on 4.5 million. More >

Mario Kart 7 is once again the Japanese all-formats number one, reclaiming top spot from lSuper Robot Taisen OG Saga Masou Kishin II. In a slow week for sales - Mario Kart 7's sales actually fell by a third - the highest new entry is Sega's 3DS title Rhythm Thief. D3 Publisher secures that rarest of sights - a top ten slot for an Xbox 360 game - with Onechanbara Z Kagura at number five. More >

Mario Kart 7 was the best-selling videogame in Japan last year, according to Media Create, with its host platform 3DS topping the 2011 hardware chart. Andriasang reports that 4,282,143 3DS systems were sold over the course of the year, and it's little surprise to see it top the hardware chart given that it has been the best-selling hardware in Japan every single week since last August's price cut. More >

Mario Kart 7 is the Japanese all-formats number one for a fourth consecutive week, with its host platform 3DS continuing its dominance of the hardware charts. The 3DS racer sold over 157,000 units to take its lifetime sales past 1.3 million. The next three spots are also occupied by 3DS games, with Monster Hunter Tri G becoming the third 3DS title, after Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, to sell a million units in Japan. More >

Mario Kart 7 is once again number one of the Japanese all-formats software chart, selling just under 110,000 units in the week ending January 1. Sales of PlayStation Vita, however, have fallen again. After launch-week sales of almost 325,000 units, sales of Sony's PSP successor fell by more than 77 per cent last week to 72,479. This week sales have fallen a further 41 per cent to 42,648. More >

Japan's game industry made 8 per cent less revenue in 2011 than the year before, according to Famitsu publisher Enterbrain. More >

Nintendo's 3DS has sold more than four million units in both Japan and the United States. Famitsu publisher Enterbrain - translated by Gamasutra - puts the 3DS's lifetime sales in Japan at 4.1 million units. VG247 reports that Nintendo sold a total of 12 million systems in the US during 2011: more 4.5 million Wii, 4 million 3DS, and 3.4 million units of the ageing DS were sold. More >

Sales of PlayStation Vita have slowed in its second week on shelves in Japan, with Sony's new handheld the fifth-best selling hardware of the week with 72,479 units sold. According to Media Create data translated by Andriasang, Vita sales in the week ending December 25 fell by over 77 per cent week on week. More >

Japanese 3DS hardware sales soared during the week ended December 4 as Mario Kart 7 recorded the biggest software debut yet for Nintendo’s handheld in its home country. More >

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said 3DS will cross the three million sales mark in Japan two weeks faster than its predecessor DS managed. More >

Japanese peripheral company Hori has revealed a 3DS steering wheel attachment to be released alongside Mario Kart 7. According to Andriasang, the thirdparty peripheral is officially licensed by Nintendo and features prominently in the game's marketing campaign. More >

A brand new trailer, below, of the latest in the karting series fresh from Nintendo's pre-TGS conference. The game will be released in Japan on December 7.

Alongside the announcement of its latest financial results and a worldwide 3DS price cut - on which more later - Nintendo has narrowed down release windows for two high-profile titles. Mario's return now has a final name, Super Mario 3DLand, and it will be out in Japan in November; Mario Kart 7 will follow in December.

Nintendo has announced a price cut for 3DS hardware, which will see it retail at ¥15,000, a drop of 40 per cent, from August 11. While the price drop only applies to Japan, Nintendo said it would also be reducing the cost of 3DS overseas some time during before the end of its current quarter in September. More to follow.