Despite having sold 105,000 Wiis in the UK and 325,000 sold across Europe in its debut weekend, Yarnton told MCV that Nintendo’s work on Wii isn’t over yet.

“We’re still committed to shipping four million units globally by the end of 2006,” said the ebullient Aussie. “We are continuing to work with our customers to make regular and multiple shipments across the UK in the coming days and weeks in order to manage the unprecedented demand for the biggest global launch of a console the industry has seen in the last decade.

“This is just the start and we still have a lot of work to do to build on the launch success.”
Yarnton went on to highlight the Wii debut as an important landmark for a console’s launch.

“Breaking the UK record for a home console launch is obviously pleasing for us but also highlights what great shape the industry is in for us to be able to reach such a massive number.”

And the retail response has been fantastic, added Yarnton: “The retailers I have spoken to are over the moon not just with Wii but with DS too, many commenting it has been their biggest launch and biggest weekends ever.

“They have commented how the launch has helped their business in what has been a tough time.”