Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has denied suggestions that the DS has reached a sales saturation point.

Speaking to Japanese news site Daily Yomiuri, the company president spoke of the opportunities still available for the platform: "Some say the market for the DS is saturated, but I disagree. In Japan, a country with a population of 127 million, we've sold 23 million DS units,” he said. “The United States is inhabited by over 300 million people, and there are more than 490 million people in the European Union. Sales of the product could grow further in foreign countries considering their populations.”

In 2008, Nintendo’s DS Lite had enjoyed the most successful year for any console in the UK since records began, while its successor, the DSi, is scheduled for release this Spring. “Nintendo DSi was launched in November [in Japan] and sold 500,000 units in the first month,” Iwata said. He also spoke of the DSi’s unique functions, such as its two cameras and the integration of online functionality, and how they can allow the system to be customised for the individual.  “We hope this will create a trend in which each family member will have his or her own DSi with their favorite software installed,” he said.

Iwata was joyous in regards to the sales of the DS and Wii, claiming they have “exceeded expectations”.

In regards to the future, Iwata added that the economic recession was not something that a company even as successful as Nintendo should ignore: "I think the game industry will keep doing well in 2009. However, the current economic recession is something that happens only once in 50 or 100 years. We have to monitor the market very carefully."

Looking forward, Iwata touched on the growing popularity of videogames in Europe, and that he would like to focus the company’s attention to “emerging makets” such as Russia and India.

Source via CVG.