Although Nintendo is keen to play down the potential damage to the console from this decision, it's difficult to see this as anything other than a massive blow to the company. Dixons group stores account for a significant number of console hardware sales, and a very public decision to clear GameCube stocks could cause a knock-on effect with other retailers as well.

Commentators have strongly criticised Nintendo for its European strategy - or lack of same - in the past few months, after the company squandered a strong start in this territory with by far the weakest Christmas of all three major platforms. In the absence of decent software support, European consumers are seemingly voting with their wallets, and the performance of the Cube in Europe is by far its weakest showing out of the three major territories.