AUG. 29, 2007 • According to research firm Chart Track, the Wii has become the fastest-selling video game console in U.K. history, reaching 1 million units sold in 38 weeks. The sales performance was 11 weeks faster than the PlayStation 2 took to reach 1 million units sold, and 22 weeks faster than the Xbox 360. For 2007, Nintendo says total video game hardware and software sales in the U.K. are up more than 40% compared to 2006. The Wii currently boasts a 68% share of the U.K. home console market. Nintendo plans to ship 16.5 million Wii consoles worldwide, plus 72 million Wii software units, by March 31 2008.

Impact: The U.K. is the third-largest game market in the world. In its entire lifespan the GameCube barely broke 1 million units in the U.K. The Wii is clearly in a different league.