It’s business as usual for Nintendo, once again sitting atop the console hardware sales charts. The NPD Group has released its retail findings for March, revealing that Nintendo has sold a staggering 721,000 Wii console for the month – no doubt selling every unit to hit store shelves. To further add to the regular demand, the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl has Nintendo fans in a frenzy. The Nintendo DS carries on with strong, unwavering sales at 698,000 units sold, just behind the Wii. “Nintendo systems represented 58 percent of all video game hardware sold in March in the United States,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit.”

Sony’s handheld took a distant, but still respectable third spot with the PSP selling 297,000 units. The success of the PSP during March is likely attributed to the release of God of War: Chains of Olympus and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the portable. Microsoft was finally able to pull ahead of the PlayStation 3 after being behind for the first two months of 2008. The Xbox 360 sold 262,000 units, perhaps as a sign of supplies finally being replenished at retailers. The PlayStation 3 held its position over the previous-generation counterpart, selling 257,000 consoles. The PlayStation 2 sat in sixth with a still relevant 216,000 units sold.

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