According to a report aired on the Japanese national TV channel NHK, Sony has completed acquisition plans for a semiconductors plant in Tsuruoka, Yamagata prefecture. The factory is, as of now, owned by Renesas Electronics and produces the Wii U’s eDRAM chip.
Sony is said to be making a purchase for seven billion yen – or roughly 68 million dollars – with further plans to invest an additional 20 million in new production facilities. The plant will be used to increase Sony’s production of smartphone CMOS sensors.
Implications on Wii U production are expected to be minimal. The consensus is that Nintendo has plenty of chips already available, and the factory producing the Wii U’s eDRAM would have shuttered in any case without Sony’s acquisition.
Since launch, the 3DS family has sold over 15 million units in Japan, Famitsu reports today. The site’s article is based on data collected by parent company Enterbrain.
Specific sales of Nintendo’s portable come in 15,037,116 units as of January 26. The feat was accomplished in 153 weeks.
Top selling games on the 3DS are as follows:
1. Pokemon X/Y – 4,228,244
2. Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 4,072,068
3. Monster Hunter 4 – 3,383,004
4. New Super Mario Bros. 2 – 2,250,416
5. Mario Kart 7 – 2,188,873
Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:
The Beetle item from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a comical item that grabs characters and carries them into the air.
This week’s Wii U eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Zelda: Wind Waker HD
2. NES Remix
3. Super Mario World
4. F-Zero
5. Unepic
6. Dr. Luigi
7. Super Mario Bros.
8. EarthBound
9. Super Mario 3D World
10. The Legend of Zelda
11. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
12. Art Academy: SketchPad
13. Super Metroid
14. Pokemon Rumble U
15. Mega Man X2
16. Super Mario Bros. 2
17. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
18. EDGE
19. Mega Man X
20. Super Punch-Out!!
Videos
1. Digital Deluxe Promo Video
2. Dr. Luigi Trailer
3. Super Mario 3D World Trailer
4. Unepic Trailer
5. Super Mario 3D World Trailer 2
6. Super Mario 3D World Accolades Trailer
7. The Legend of Zelda Stage 3: Collect Rupees and Buy an Item!
8. NES Remix Trailer
9. Mario Kart 8 Trailer
10. NES Remix I Stage 10: Skate Mario!
11. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze 6/11/13
12. Wii Fit U – Trial Version Promo Trailer
13. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Trailer
14. Zelda: Wind Waker HD 6/11/13
15. Super Mario World Trailer
16. Super Smash Bros. – Rosalina Reveal Trailer
17. Pokemon Rumble U Gameplay Trailer
18. Sonic Lost World Launch Trailer
19. New Super Mario Bros. U Video
20. Wii Sports Club Trailer
Source: Wii U eShop
Natsume announced a January release window for Yumi’s Odd Odyssey last month. While that target won’t be met, we should be seeing Agatsuma’s platformer in the US very soon.
Natsume tells us that Yumi’s Odd Odyssey is unlikely to hit the eShop this Thursday. For now, the publisher guesses the game will be out “in about 2-3 weeks.” That’d put Yumi’s Odd Odyssey at around a mid-February launch.
Bplus Games has nearly wrapped up work on Bit Boy!! Arcade. Earlier today, the studio wrote the following in a tweet:
Bit Boy!! ARCADE development nearly finished!! Some more tweaks to do before it goes to @NintendoAmerica [=)] KUBITASTIC!!
— Bplus.at (@BplusGames) January 27, 2014
Bit Boy!! Arcade doesn’t have a release date just yet, but it shouldn’t be too long before it arrives on the 3DS eShop.
This week’s 3DS eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2. Pokemon Dream Radar
3. Super Mario Bros.
4. Darts Up 3D
5. Animal Crossing: New Leaf
6. Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
7. Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder
8. Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
9. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
10. Super Mario Bros. 2
11. SteamWorld Dig
12. The Legend of Zelda
13. Zelda: Oracle of Ages
14. EDGE
15. Gunman Clive
16. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
17. Fire Emblem: Awakening
18. Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
19. Game & Watch: Mario’s Cement Factory
20. Pokemon Y
Videos
1. Mario Kart 8 Trailer
2. Super Smash Bros. – Rosalina Reveal Trailer
3. Hyrule Warriors Teaser
4. Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder Trailer
5. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Trailer
6. Super Mario 3D World Trailer 3
7. NES Remix – Remix I Stage 10: Skate Mario!
8. Yoshi’s New Island – Teaser Trailer
9. Kirby 3DS Teaser Trailer
10. Pokemon Dream Radar Video
11. Bravely Default – Jobs Trailer
12. Mario Kart 7 Video
13. The Legend of Zelda Stage 3: Collect Rupees and Buy an Item!
14. Mario Party: Island Tour Launch Trailer
15. Bravely Default Demo Trailer
16. Play With Your Food Zelda Edition Ep. 1 Letting Go
17. Sonic Lost World Launch Trailer
18. Deluxe Digital Promotion Video
19. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest Trailer
20. Adventure Time Explore the Dungeon Trailer
Source: 3DS eShop
Starting today, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is seeing a sale on the eShop. The Wii U and 3DS versions can both be purchased for $20 each. This offer will last until February 3.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has been announced, #MH3U is half off and we've got a live stream at 3PM http://t.co/r4dh0jVgfg Best Monday EVER!!
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) January 27, 2014
Project Y2K will be playable for the first time at PAX East 2014, AckkStudios has confirmed. The game will also be officially revealed on the expo’s first day, April 11.
AckkStudios will be bringing Project Y2K to the Wii U eShop sometime in the future. The studio released first screenshots from the downloadable title earlier this month – check them out here.
