Today Nintendo announced that its 3DS system sold 303,000 units across Europe through its first two days on store shelves, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo handheld in the region to date.

Of the handhelds that were snatched up, 113,000 were sold in the UK while another 50,000 were purchased in Germany.

In the UK in particular, the 3DS launch sales are a slight improvement over past Nintendo hardware. Nintendo DSi started its life with sales of 90,000 units, while the Wii debuted around the 106,000 mark. However, the 3DS failed to top the UK opening weekend of the PlayStation Portable, which shifted 185,000 units (albeit in four days, not two).