Editing GameCube (section)

=== Sales ===
In Japan, between 280,000 and 300,000 GameCube consoles were sold during the first three days of its sale, out of an initial shipment of 450,000 units.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Shahmed |date=May 17, 2006 |title=Japanese GameCube Sales Figures |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/japanese-gamecube-sales-figures/1100-2812925/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209043936/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/japanese-gamecube-sales-figures/1100-2812925/ |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> During its launch weekend, $100 million worth of GameCube products were sold in North America.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2001 |title=GameCube Sales Hit $100m |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1666671.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231544/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1666671.stm |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> The console was sold out in several stores, faster than initial sales of both of its competitors, the Xbox and the PlayStation 2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2001 |title=GameCube Sales Brisk |url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/11/29/technology/nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817124901/https://money.cnn.com/2001/11/29/technology/nintendo/ |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |website=[[CNN]] Money}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saddoris |first=Chad |date=2001-12-05 |title=Nintendo's GAMECUBE a holiday hit |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Nintendo-s-GAMECUBE-a-holiday-hit-9942088.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125154414/https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Nintendo-s-GAMECUBE-a-holiday-hit-9942088.php |archive-date=November 25, 2024 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Chron |language=en}}</ref> Nintendo reported that the most popular [[launch game]] is ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', with more sales at its launch than ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' had.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ando |first=Mariko |date=November 29, 2001 |title=GameCube Sales Surpasses Xbox, PS2 |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nintendo-claims-gamecube-sales-outpaces-xbox-ps2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231537/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nintendo-claims-gamecube-sales-outpaces-xbox-ps2 |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=MarketWatch}}</ref> Other popular games include ''[[Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]'' and ''[[Wave Race: Blue Storm]]''.<ref name="BBC" /> By early December 2001, 600,000 units had been sold in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=December 4, 2001 |title=Nintendo GameCube Sales on Target to Beat Initial Forecast |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/12/04/nintendo_gamecube_sales_on_target/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231500/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/12/04/nintendo_gamecube_sales_on_target/ |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |website=The Register}}</ref>

Nintendo predicted 50 million GameCube units by 2005,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Targets 50 Million GameCubes – News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7448/nintendo-targets-50-million-gamecubes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702190158/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7448/nintendo-targets-50-million-gamecubes |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> but only sold 22 million GameCube units worldwide during its lifespan,<ref name="Sales">{{Cite web |date=June 2011 |title=Consolidated Sales Transition by Region |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1106.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027052007/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1106.pdf |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=September 4, 2011 |publisher=Nintendo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo GameCube |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/history-of-video-game-consoles/Nintendo_GameCube |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215173505/https://www.ign.com/wikis/history-of-video-game-consoles/Nintendo_GameCube |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |website=[[IGN]]|date=March 27, 2014 }}</ref> placing it slightly behind the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]'s 24 million,<ref name="Xbox sales">{{Cite web |last=Dyer |first=Mitch |date=November 15, 2011 |title=Ten Incredible Gifts Xbox Gave Modern Gaming |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/15/ten-incredible-gifts-xbox-gave-modern-gaming?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071245/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/15/ten-incredible-gifts-xbox-gave-modern-gaming?page=2 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> though it did manage to outsell the Xbox in Japan,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 17, 2013 |title=Why Xbox Failed in Japan |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/why-xbox-failed-in-japan |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701152720/https://www.eurogamer.net/why-xbox-failed-in-japan |archive-date=July 1, 2022}}</ref> and well behind the PlayStation 2's 155 million.<ref name="PS2 sales">{{Cite web |last=Moriarty |first=Colin |date=February 16, 2013 |title=Sony's Documentary on PlayStation 2's Retail Dominance |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/17/sonys-documentary-on-playstation-2s-retail-dominance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221035859/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/17/sonys-documentary-on-playstation-2s-retail-dominance |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' articles from 2006 showed and a 2020 book show that Nintendo had officially sold 24 million GameCube consoles worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |date=October 1, 2006 |title=How the Wii Was Born |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2006/10/wii-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531073814/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2006/10/wii-2/ |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Gamecube Price Drop Imminent? |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/05/6710-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022203837/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/05/6710-2/ |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Pellegrin-Boucher |first1=Estelle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KvK-DwAAQBAJ |title=Innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries |last2=Roy |first2=Pierre |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2020 |isbn=9781786303790 |pages=13 |chapter=1 |access-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208033709/https://books.google.com/books?id=KvK-DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> and one article from ''[[Seeking Alpha]]'' shows that the GameCube sold 26 million consoles worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sakazaki |first=Lloyd |date=December 11, 2006 |title=Seventh Generation Gaming Consoles: Thinking Outside the Box |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/22075-seventh-generation-gaming-consoles-thinking-outside-the-box |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011071020/https://seekingalpha.com/article/22075-seventh-generation-gaming-consoles-thinking-outside-the-box |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Seeking Alpha}}</ref>  Its sales exceeded that of the Xbox 360 in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=September 9, 2006 |title=GCN Outsells 360 in Japan |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/09/gcn-outsells-360-in-japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715122643/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/09/gcn-outsells-360-in-japan |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2006 |title=Xbox 360 losing to GameCube in Japan |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/xbox-360-losing-to-gamecube-in-japan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715122642/https://www.videogamer.com/news/xbox-360-losing-to-gamecube-in-japan/ |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=VideoGamer.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Japanese GameCube sales figures |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/japanese-gamecube-sales-figures/1100-2812925/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209043936/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/japanese-gamecube-sales-figures/1100-2812925/ |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moriarty |first=Colin |date=April 1, 2013 |title=Why Did Xbox 360 Fail in Japan? |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/01/why-did-xbox-360-fail-in-japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715122642/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/01/why-did-xbox-360-fail-in-japan |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> The GameCube's predecessor, the Nintendo 64, also outperformed it at nearly 33 million units.<ref name="N64 sales">{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Nintendo 64 Week: Day One |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/29/nintendo-64-week-day-one |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223060056/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/29/nintendo-64-week-day-one |archive-date=February 23, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> It also exceeded the [[Dreamcast]], which yielded 9.13 million units.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zackariasson |first1=Peter |title=The Video Game Industry: Formation, Present State, and Future |last2=Wilson |first2=Timothy L. |last3=Ernkvist |first3=Mirko |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-138-80383-1 |page=158 |chapter=Console Hardware: The Development of Nintendo Wii}}</ref> In September 2009, IGN ranked the GameCube 16th in its list of best gaming consoles of all time, placing it behind all three of its sixth-generation competitors: the PlayStation 2 (3rd), the Dreamcast (8th), and the Xbox (11th).<ref name="igntop25" /> As of March 31, 2003, 9.55 million GameCube units had been sold worldwide, behind Nintendo's initial goal of 10 million consoles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2003 |title=Profit Decline at Nintendo Blamed on GameCube Sales |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/amp/Profit-decline-at-Nintendo-blamed-on-GameCube-1115364.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231711/http://www.seattlepi.com/business/amp/Profit-decline-at-Nintendo-blamed-on-GameCube-1115364.php |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=seattlepi}}</ref> Many of Nintendo's own first-party games, such as ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=January 17, 2002 |title=Super Smash Bros. "Million" in Japan |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/17/super-smash-bros-million-in-japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630135020/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/17/super-smash-bros-million-in-japan |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 30, 2001 |title=Smash Bros. Melee Hot in Japan |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/30/smash-bros-melee-hot-in-japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630134648/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/30/smash-bros-melee-hot-in-japan |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Smashing Debut! - News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/6760/a-smashing-debut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630135020/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/6760/a-smashing-debut |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> ''[[Pokémon Colosseum]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokemon Colosseum Already Racking Up Sales – News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/9386/pokemon-colosseum-already-racking-up-sales |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517171747/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/9386/pokemon-colosseum-already-racking-up-sales |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=Nintendo World Report}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2004 |title=GameCube Market Share Doubles in Europe |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecube-market-share-doubles-in-europe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630134648/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecube-market-share-doubles-in-europe |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2004 |title=UK Charts: Euro 2004 Goes Top as Pokemon Outsells Ninja Gaiden |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/uk-charts-euro-2004-goes-top-as-pokemon-outsells-ninja-gaiden |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630134650/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/uk-charts-euro-2004-goes-top-as-pokemon-outsells-ninja-gaiden |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> and ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash]]'',<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2003 |title=Japan Charts: GameCube Surges as Mario Kart Takes the Top Spot |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/japan-charts-gamecube-surges-as-mario-kart-takes-the-top-spot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630134648/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/japan-charts-gamecube-surges-as-mario-kart-takes-the-top-spot |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> had strong sales, though this did not typically benefit third-party developers or directly drive sales of their games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameCube Sales Brisk – Nov. 29, 2001 |url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/11/29/technology/nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817124901/https://money.cnn.com/2001/11/29/technology/nintendo/ |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> However, at the same time, these first-party games, and second-party and third-party games, elevated the GameCube.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="auto" /><ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=November 5, 2003 |title=GameCube's Market Share Doubles in the USA |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecubes-market-share-doubles-in-the-usa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630135020/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecubes-market-share-doubles-in-the-usa |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2004 |title=GameCube Approaches 3 Million Units in Europe |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecube-approaches-3-million-units-in-europe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630135027/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamecube-approaches-3-million-units-in-europe |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2003 |title=UK Cube Sales Rise Dramatically |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/uk-cube-sales-rise-dramatically |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630135022/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/uk-cube-sales-rise-dramatically |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2018 |title=The Nintendo Switch Has Officially Surpassed the GameCube In Lifetime Sales |url=https://www.goliath.com/gaming/the-nintendo-switch-has-officially-surpassed-the-gamecube-in-lifetime-sales/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725101225/https://www.goliath.com/gaming/the-nintendo-switch-has-officially-surpassed-the-gamecube-in-lifetime-sales/ |archive-date=July 25, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=Goliath}}</ref>}}

Sales of many cross-platform games—such as sports franchises released by [[Electronic Arts]]—were far below their PlayStation 2 and Xbox counterparts, eventually prompting some developers to scale back or completely cease support for the GameCube. Exceptions include [[Sega]]'s family friendly ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and ''[[Super Monkey Ball]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2019 |title=Super Monkey Ball Creator Is Still Surprised the Series Took Off |url=https://www.destructoid.com/super-monkey-ball-creator-is-still-surprised-the-series-took-off/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701155050/https://www.destructoid.com/super-monkey-ball-creator-is-still-surprised-the-series-took-off/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=Destructoid}}</ref> which reportedly yielded more sales on GameCube than most of the company's games on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.<ref name="A Dolphin's Tale">{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Emily |date=January 7, 2014 |title=A Dolphin's Tale: The Story of GameCube |url=http://www.dromble.com/2014/01/07/dolphin-tale-story-of-gamecube/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705003643/http://www.dromble.com/2014/01/07/dolphin-tale-story-of-gamecube/ |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=Dromble Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dubin |first=Jayson |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Sonic Adventure 2 Battle #1 Selling Title on GameCube 1st Week Out |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/sonic_adventure_2_battle_1_selling_title_on_gamecube_1st_week_out/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813085214/https://www.gamezone.com/news/sonic_adventure_2_battle_1_selling_title_on_gamecube_1st_week_out/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=GameZone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dreadknux |date=March 28, 2002 |title=Sonic Adventure 2 Battle Leads US GameCube Chart for Second Month Running |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2002/03/sonic-adventure-2-battle-leads-us-gamecube-chart-for-second-month-running/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701155044/https://www.sonicstadium.org/2002/03/sonic-adventure-2-battle-leads-us-gamecube-chart-for-second-month-running/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=The Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=February 25, 2002 |title=Sonic Nabs Strong Sales |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/25/sonic-nabs-strong-sales |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701145225/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/25/sonic-nabs-strong-sales |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> In June 2003, [[Acclaim Entertainment]] CEO Rod Cousens said that the company would no longer support the GameCube, and criticized it as a system "that don't deliver profits". Acclaim would later rescind his claims, by saying the company would elevate support for the system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2012 |title=Acclaim to Pull GameCube Support |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/23/acclaim-to-pull-gamecube-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711010507/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/23/acclaim-to-pull-gamecube-support |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> This decision was made unclear after the company filed for bankruptcy in August 2004. In September 2003, [[Eidos Interactive]] announced to end support for the GameCube, as the publisher was losing money from developing for Nintendo's console. This led to several games in development being canceled for the system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2003 |title=Eidos to Pull GCN Support |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/436/436915p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204083334/http://cube.ign.com/articles/436/436915p1.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> Eidos's CEO Mike McGravey would say that the GameCube was a "declining business". However, after the company's purchase by the [[SCi Games|SCi Entertainment Group]] in 2005, Eidos resumed development for the system and released ''[[Lego Star Wars: The Video Game]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2005 |title=Eidos Brings "The Force" to the Nintendo GameCube with LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/eidos-brings-the-force-to-the-nintendo-gamecuber-with-lego-star-wars-the-video-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711162141/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/eidos-brings-the-force-to-the-nintendo-gamecuber-with-lego-star-wars-the-video-game |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=gamesindustry.biz}}</ref> and ''[[Tomb Raider: Legend]]''.

In March 2003, British retailer [[Dixons Retail|Dixons]] removed all GameCube consoles, accessories and games from its stores.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humphries |first=Matthew |date=March 12, 2003 |title=Major UK Retailer Dixons Dumps GameCube – Geek.com |work=Geek.com |url=https://www.geek.com/games/major-uk-retailer-dixons-dumps-gamecube-553046/ |url-status=dead |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405043549/https://www.geek.com/games/major-uk-retailer-dixons-dumps-gamecube-553046/ |archive-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref> That same month, another British retailer [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]], cut the price of the GameCube in their stores to £78.99, which was more than £50 cheaper than Nintendo's SRP for the console at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 18, 2003 |title=Argos to Drop GameCube |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47584 |url-status=live |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124220314/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47584 |archive-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref> However, in October of that year, they did eventually restock their supply of consoles after a price drop was ordered which caused the console sales to outpace the PlayStation 2 for a week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=gamesindustry.biz |title=Argos Re-Stocks GameCube After Price Cut |url=https://www.technewsmax.com/2003/10/13/argos_restocks_gamecube_after_price/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705063412/https://www.technewsmax.com/2003/10/13/argos_restocks_gamecube_after_price/ |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=TechNewsMax.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=October 10, 2003 |title=Argos Re-Introduces GameCube Following Price Cut |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/argos-re-introduces-gamecube-following-price-cut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701160553/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/argos-re-introduces-gamecube-following-price-cut |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>

With sales sagging and millions of unsold consoles in stock, Nintendo halted GameCube production for the first nine months of 2003 to reduce surplus units.<ref name="Frederick Sekiguchi">Frederick, Jim, and Toko Sekiguchi. "The Console Wars: Game On." Time International (South Pacific Edition) 49 (2003): 56-59. Business Source Complete. Web. July 24, 2013.</ref> Sales rebounded slightly after a price drop to US$99.99 on September 24, 2003<ref name="price drop 99">{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2003 |title=Nintendo GameCube Price Drops to $99! |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030924005222/en/Nintendo-GameCube-Price-Drops-99!-Hardware-Price |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805172214/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030924005222/en/Nintendo-GameCube-Price-Drops-99%21-Hardware-Price |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2007 |publisher=[[Nintendo]]}}</ref> and the release of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition]]'' bundle. A demo disc, the ''GameCube Preview Disc'', was also released in a bundle in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc |url=https://www.ign.com/games/nintendo-gamecube-preview-disc/gcn-567300 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925002957/http://www.ign.com/games/nintendo-gamecube-preview-disc/gcn-567300 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=August 7, 2015 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> Beginning with this period, GameCube sales continued to be steady, particularly in Japan, but the GameCube remained in third place in worldwide sales during the sixth-generation era because of weaker sales performance elsewhere, though its fortunes would change for the better in America and Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry Gilbert |date=August 1, 2013 |title=The Wii U Is the GameCube (but Not the Virtual Boy) |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/wii-u-gamecube-not-virtual-boy/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150159/http://www.gamesradar.com/wii-u-gamecube-not-virtual-boy/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

Iwata forecasted to investors that the company would sell 50 million GameCube units worldwide by March 2005, but by the end of 2006, it had only sold 21.74 million{{mdash}}fewer than half.<ref name="A Dolphin's Tale" /> However, it had the highest [[attach rate]] of any Nintendo console at 9.59 and was profitable,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sirani |first=Jordan |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Where Switch, PS5 Rank Among the Best-Selling Video Game Consoles of All Time |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/best-selling-video-game-consoles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716110855/https://www.ign.com/articles/best-selling-video-game-consoles |archive-date=July 16, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moriarty |first=Colin |date=January 29, 2014 |title=These Are Nintendo's Lifetime Hardware and Software Numbers |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/29/these-are-nintendos-lifetime-hardware-and-software-numbers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701151349/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/29/these-are-nintendos-lifetime-hardware-and-software-numbers |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is The Best Nintendo System Ever? |url=https://www.vdgms.com/opinion/what-is-the-best-nintendo-system-ever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714115842/https://www.vdgms.com/opinion/what-is-the-best-nintendo-system-ever |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=VDGMS|date=March 18, 2022 }}</ref> even more than Xbox with higher sales rates.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carter |first=David |title=Money Games: Profiting from the Convergence of Sports and Entertainment |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8047-7679-0 |pages=46–47 |oclc=1198931987}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rabowsky |first=Brent |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/780282928 |title=Interactive Entertainment: A Videogame Industry Guide |publisher=Radiosity Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9842984-0-2 |pages=28 |oclc=780282928}}</ref>