Nintendo is planning a simultaneous global release for its next generation Revolution console; something that has never been achieved before.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that its next generation console, the Revolution would be launched sometime after March 2006 to all markets at the same time.

"I can only say that it's coming out during 2006, but it will be after the current fiscal year", said Iwata. "We hope to make it a simultaneous worldwide release as much as it's possible".

The closest attempt so far has been with Microsoft and its Xbox 360 console, however it conceded that the plan for a simultaneous global launch was too ambitious and scaled back the program.

The current launch plan sees its new console launched over 6 weeks to give time for stock and the “marketing machine” to launch across the globe.

Iwata also said that he expects the Revolution to outperform the company's current-generation system in sales: "It would be a complete failure if we didn't sell more units than the Nintendo GameCube".

The GameCube to date has sold just under 20 million units worldwide, according to latest estimates.

>> Nintendo - Official website of Nintendo