With over 90% of the initial batch of units sold in the first week across the US, Nintendo have today announced that they are to boost the shipments of its new DS system to 1.4 million units by the end of the year, up by 40% on previous expectations; taking Japan into account, that figure rises to 2.8 million units.

Sales of the console are going well, with over 700,000 units sold in the US so far, and as we reported earlier this week, over 500,000 units have been sold in Japan.

Announcing the increase, Nintendo of America's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, George Harrison said, "Nintendo is doing everything it can to make Nintendo DS attainable for the holidays…The enthusiastic response from shoppers has made Nintendo DS 'must-have' – and we're determined to make it 'will have.' "

In Japan, the Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata said that, "Between the two countries, I believe Nintendo will be able to increase total shipment by 800,000 units at least. In other words, the Japanese and U.S. shipments of DS will exceed 2.8 million units by the end of December."

Iwata-san also confirmed, as we previously reported, that the DS will be hitting European shores by the end of March 2005, and he anticipates a rise in production of the console to 1.5 million from next April, and he even went as far to say that "During peak periods, it may be necessary to boost production to 2 million units per month on a temporary basis."

We’ll have more news on the DS shortly…