Nintendo has announced a new worldwide 3DS sales total of 6.68 million units.

That figure covers sales from 3DS launch up to 30th September, as revealed today in Nintendo's half-year financial report.

That means 3DS sales are comparable to DS sales within a similar timeframe - the 3DS is even marginally in front.

The 3DS launched in Japan in February, seven months ago. The 3DS arrived in Europe and the US roughly a month later.

Seven months after the DS launch, Nintendo had shifted 6.65 million units. But the global roll-out took longer - November 2004 in the US, December 2004 in Japan and March 2005 in Europe.

Between April and June just 710,000 3DS were sold, although hardware sales sprung back to life this summer. A far healthier 2.36 million 3DS consoles were bought between July and September after the system's August price-drop.

Worldwide 3DS software sales topped 8.13 million during the period, with Ocarina of Time 3D surpassing the 1 million milestone. Life-to-date software sales have now hit 17.56 million.

The report lists the current DS hardware total is now a now-gargantuan 149 million, while the Wii sits atop 89.36 million units sold.