Nintendo Lifts Shipment Forecast for DS Console

Nintendo Co., the world’s biggest maker of hand-held game machines, boosted its shipment forecast for its new console amid high demand in the U.S. and Japan.

Nintendo said it would now ship more than 2.8 million of its dual-screen Nintendo DS systems to the U.S. and Japan by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, Nintendo said it planned to ship as many as 2.8 million units, 800,000 more than a previous estimate, by Dec. 31.

Nintendo started selling the Nintendo DS in the U.S. in November and in Japan this month. Many retail stores have run out of the game console, which costs less than $150, and 90% of the shipped Nintendo DS systems have already been sold, the company said.