The Pokémon Go effect: 3DS sales up 19% as the mobile megahit stirs up fan excitement

Nintendo is having a rough fiscal year, but the company was able to rub off some shine from Pokémon Go to help buoy its most recent quarterly results.

The 3DS and its Pokémon games saw a boost in sales last quarter thanks to the Google Maps-powered Pokémon Go app from developer Niantic. That game, which debuted in July and has already generated $500 million in spending, has reenergized a generation of fans, and they are spending some of their cash to purchase the 3DS handheld and releases like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. While Go dominated the $36.6 billion mobile-gaming market, Nintendo is benefiting from the residual excitement.