Sony’s PlayStation 2 has lengthy reigned because the best-selling online game console of all time. PS4, regardless of its large gross sales success, ended its run roughly 40 million items behind its older sibling. Change, in the meantime, has moved properly forward of PS4 to earn a spot on the rostrum of best-selling consoles.
With Change and PS4 having secured their spots among the many all-time best-selling consoles, we got down to uncover how the remainder of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft’s {hardware} stack up. Scroll down or click on by the gallery under for our listing of the 28 best-selling online game consoles of all time, with extra info on launch dates, highest-rated video games, and extra.
Some gross sales figures come straight from the {hardware} producers, whereas others are estimated primarily based on essentially the most not too long ago reported numbers and market evaluation. Unofficial gross sales totals are marked with an asterisk (*). The very best-rated video games, in the meantime, come from Metacritic.
Should you solely care in regards to the largest sellers, this is the TL;DR Prime 5 Greatest-Promoting Consoles listing, so as. Scroll down for extra particulars and breakdowns:
- PlayStation 2 (Sony) – 159 million*
- Nintendo DS (Nintendo) – 154.02 million
- Nintendo Change (Nintendo) – 141.32 million
- Sport Boy/Sport Boy Colour (Nintendo) – 118.69 million
- PlayStation 4 (Sony) – 117.2 million
28. Sega Dreamcast – 9.13 million*
*Based on Sega’s 2001 annual report, lifetime gross sales for the console had hit 8.2 million by March 31, 2001 — the day Sega ended Dreamcast manufacturing. Within the first half of the next fiscal 12 months, the corporate reported it had offered a further 130,000 items in Japan and 530,000 within the U.S, bringing the gross sales complete as much as 8.86 million. Remaining stock for these two territories on the time, in accordance with that very same report, totaled 270,000 items. We all know, due to Sega’s 2002 annual report, it will definitely offered by all of that remaining stock, bringing our gross sales complete as much as 9.13 million.
Now, the one figures lacking are gross sales and stock in Europe and Asia (exterior of Japan) after March 31, 2001. Nevertheless, we are able to seemingly low cost Europe, as remaining European stock was offered to Bigben Interactive across the time manufacturing ended. It’s unknown what number of items had been left in Asia, although it’s doubtless a reasonably insignificant quantity contemplating it was the bottom performing of these 4 markets. As such, we’re sticking with the recognized complete of 9.13 million.
27. Sega Saturn – 9.26 million*
*As of March 31, 1998, Saturn had offered 8.8 million items when it was discontinued within the U.S. That was the final official replace from Sega, although the console would proceed to be offered in Japan for an additional two years. 9.26 million is the ultimate estimate given by analysis agency CESA. Whereas we don’t have any official numbers to bridge that hole between 8.8 and 9.26 million, CESA’s Dreamcast estimate proved correct (in accordance with our math), and so we’re going to just accept its Saturn complete as the perfect accessible guess.
26. Wii U – 13.56 million
With 13.56 million items offered, in accordance with official gross sales information, Wii U is Nintendo’s worst-selling console of all time by a large margin. Nevertheless, as former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé advised CNN, the teachings realized from Wii U had been essential in propelling the Change to success.
25. Sega Sport Gear – 13.9 million*
*There are a number of Sport Gear gross sales totals floating across the internet: 10.62 million (from a knowledge compilation on NeoGAF), 12 million (from late Sega govt Joe Miller), and “about” 14 million (from former Sega president Hideki Sato). Contemplating these three sources, we’ve opted to go together with the corporate’s former president, assuming “about” means barely lower than 14 million.
24. PlayStation Vita – 14 million*
*Regardless of a devoted fanbase, Sony’s follow-up to the PSP failed to realize an analogous foothold within the handheld market, falling properly wanting its predecessor’s gross sales complete. Sony stopped reporting gross sales figures for Vita pretty early on in its lifecycle, although estimates — from information shops and business analysts — put the overall someplace between 10 and 15 million. Gamesindustry.biz reported Vita “offered south of” 15 million items, but ended its run “marginally forward” of Wii U, main us to our tough estimate of 14 million.
23. Sega Grasp System/Mark III – 20 million*
*Based on a compilation on NeoGAF of accessible gross sales information, Grasp System offered 6.2 million items in Europe. In Brazil, its largest market, gross sales reached over 8 million, bringing our complete to 14.2 million. Estimates for gross sales in Japan and the U.S., in the meantime, typically sit round 2 million per territory. Accounting for an additional 2 million in remaining territories — resembling Australia and South Korea, the place the console reportedly offered pretty properly —we arrive at our remaining estimate of 20 million.
22. Xbox – 21 million*
*Whereas Microsoft hasn’t introduced an official gross sales complete for the unique Xbox, an archived submit from the official Xbox web site states “greater than 24 million Xbox consoles” had been offered as of Could 2006. Complete Xbox 360 gross sales at the moment had simply hit 3.3 million items, in accordance with GamesIndustry.biz, main us to our estimate of 21 million for the unique system.
21. GameCube – 21.74 million
The GameCube ended its run with 21.74 million items offered, in accordance with Nintendo’s official numbers, making it the corporate’s second-worst-selling console thus far. Nevertheless, with 208.57 million software program items offered, the variety of GameCube video games offered per console is the very best for any Nintendo system at 9.59.
20. Xbox Collection X|S – 27 million+*
Microsoft has not formally disclosed console gross sales numbers since 2015, however we’ve a good suggestion of Xbox Collection X|S’s gross sales complete by 2023 due to Take-Two’s most-recent earnings report. The writer revealed 77 million Gen 9 (PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S) consoles had been offered by the tip of 2023. On December 20, 2023, Sony introduced it had offered 50 million PS5s. Subtract Sony’s official gross sales complete from Take-Two’s reported Gen 9 complete and we’ve our greatest guess at Collection X|S’s gross sales complete to date: 27 million items.
19. Atari 2600 – 30 million*
*The oldest console on this listing, Atari 2600 offered a formidable 30 million items in its lifetime, in accordance with an archived model of a press launch from Atari associate AtGames. The 2600 is by far Atari’s most profitable console, with none of its successors — 5200, 7800, and Jaguar — promoting sufficient items to qualify for this listing.
18. Nintendo 64 – 32.93 million
Nintendo’s third residence console ended its run with just below 33 million items offered, in accordance with official gross sales numbers from the corporate. N64 Software program gross sales fell simply shy of 225 million items, giving it the bottom variety of video games offered per system (6.83) for a Nintendo residence console.
See our picks for the greatest N64 video games ever made.
17. Sega Genesis/Mega Drive – 35 million*
*The gross sales complete of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive is a subject of a lot debate amongst recreation historians. The precise determine is unimaginable to lock down given the dearth of concrete information, however estimates typically vary from 30 to 40 million items. Aforementioned Sega govt Joe Miller as soon as mentioned system gross sales had been over 40 million, although that quantity is extremely contested and seemingly contradicted by Sega’s accessible gross sales information. Compilations of that information — from web researchers {and professional} analysis companies — present first-party console gross sales hit someplace between 28 and 31 million items.
Add in estimated third-party console gross sales from corporations resembling TecToy in Brazil (the place the console carried out properly into the 2010s) and Majesco in North America, and we arrive at our ballpark determine of 35 million — a quantity seemingly corroborated by a 2017 press launch from Sega associate AtGames.
16. SNES/Tremendous Famicom – 49.10 million
This gross sales determine comes immediately from Nintendo. Whereas the SNES fell wanting its predecessor when it comes to gross sales, the console is remembered fondly for its expansive library of high-quality video games, together with these listed above. 379 million items of software program had been offered for the system. The Tremendous Nintendo Leisure System — or Tremendous Famicom because it’s recognized in Japan — usually tops “greatest console” lists due to its large third-party assist and iconic single- and multiplayer video games.
15. Xbox One – 58 million*
Microsoft stopped reporting Xbox One gross sales numbers in October 2015, although the corporate seemingly revealed the console’s remaining gross sales complete throughout a presentation on the 2023 Greatest Worldwide Video games Competition in Brazil. Based on a picture posted to Twitter on June 29, Xbox One completed its run with 58 million items offered.
If this quantity is correct, Microsoft’s eighth-generation console finally offered half as many items as Sony’s competing PS4.
*We’re protecting the asterisk on this gross sales complete as we work to confirm the determine with Microsoft.
14. PlayStation 5 – 61.7 million+
PlayStation 5 is one other large success for Sony, promoting 61.7 million items by the tip of June 2024, in accordance with Sony’s newest monetary report. A semiconductor chip scarcity restricted Sony’s capability to fabricate new PS5s throughout its first two years in the marketplace, although the console is now available and monitoring proper across the gross sales tempo of PS4, which went on to promote 117 million items.
See our picks for the greatest PS5 video games under.
13. NES/Famicom – 61.91 million
Nintendo’s official numbers put NES gross sales at over 61 million items. Probably the most senior entry on this listing, Nintendo’s first console went on to generate over 500 million items of software program gross sales. The NES is commonly credited with bringing video video games again from the lifeless after the online game crash that ended as soon as dominant manufacturers resembling Atari.
12. Nintendo 3DS – 75.94 million
This gross sales determine comes immediately from Nintendo and is present as of December 31, 2020. It encompasses complete gross sales for all programs inside the 3DS household, which incorporates all variations of Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS. Thus far, the hand-held household has generated 385 million items of software program gross sales. The 3DS did not see a direct successor, successfully turning Nintendo from a console/handheld maker right into a single-system-focused writer.
See our picks for the greatest 3DS video games of all time.
11. Sport Boy Advance – 81.51 million
This official gross sales determine comes immediately from Nintendo. The corporate additionally notes software program gross sales for the hand-held closed at 377 million items. The Sport Boy Advance line of gadgets included many various design iterations and kind components, the final of which was the Sport Boy Micro in 2005. The highest-selling mannequin was the Sport Boy Advance SP, with 43.57 million items offered. The Sport Boy Micro solely offered 2.42 million throughout its quick run.
See our picks for the greatest GBA video games of all time.
10. PlayStation Transportable – 82.5 million*
*Sony final reported an official gross sales complete for PSP in 2012, when it introduced the hand-held had offered 76 million items. The system would proceed to be produced for a further two years, throughout which period it is unknown precisely what number of items had been offered. Nevertheless, in a 2023 submit on X, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden mentioned the hand-held offered over 82.5 million items.
See our picks for the greatest PSP video games of all time.
9. Xbox 360 – 85 million*
*In June 2014, Microsoft reported it had shipped 84 million Xbox 360s to retailers. Whereas Microsoft stopped reporting particular gross sales figures in 2015, the system remained in manufacturing for practically two years. Throughout that two-year interval, we are able to safely assume Microsoft transformed that 84 million determine from sell-in to sell-through, whereas, conservatively estimating, shifting a further a million items. If correct, that might place Xbox 360 within the eighth spot on the listing of best-selling consoles.
See our picks for the greatest Xbox 360 video games of all time.
8. PlayStation 3 – 87.5 million*
*As of March 31, 2017, PS3 had offered 87.4 million items, in accordance with Sony. The system would stay in manufacturing by Could of that very same 12 months. With that in thoughts, it is doubtless PS3 ended its run with someplace between 87 and 88 million items offered, leaving us with our conservative estimate of 87.5.
See our picks for the greatest PS3 video games of all time.
7. Nintendo Wii – 101.63 million
Based on official gross sales figures from Nintendo, Wii ended its run because the sixth-best-selling console of all time. With over 100 million programs offered, Wii generated 920 million items of software program gross sales — the second most for any Nintendo console.
See our picks for the greatest Wii video games of all time.
6. PlayStation – 102.4 million
Based on Sony, the unique PlayStation’s remaining gross sales complete sits at 102.4 million, with over 960 million software program items offered. This makes it the third-best-selling Sony console ever behind PS4 and PS2.
See our picks for the greatest PS1 video games of all time.
5. PlayStation 4 – 117.2 million
PlayStation 4 dominated the eighth technology of consoles. After delivery 1 million items throughout Sony’s fiscal 12 months ending March 31, 2022, PS4 gross sales now sit at 117.2 million. The console holds the title of “quickest residence console to succeed in 100 million unit promote in,” in accordance with Niko Companions analyst Sony’s, beating PS2 to the milestone by two months. Thus far, greater than a billion software program items have been offered for the console.
4. Sport Boy/Sport Boy Colour – 118.69 million
This gross sales determine comes immediately from Nintendo and consists of gross sales of each the unique Sport Boy and subsequent Sport Boy Colour. 501 million items of software program had been offered for the console — good for third on Nintendo’s all-time software program listing.
See our picks for the greatest Sport Boy video games of all time.
3. Nintendo Change – 141.32 million
By the tip of 2022, Nintendo Change turned the third-best-selling online game console of all time, passing the lifetime gross sales totals of PS4 and Sport Boy. Its gross sales complete, as of March 31, 2024, now sits at 141.32 million, 12.7 million items shy of Nintendo’s best-selling {hardware}, the Nintendo DS.
Based on Nintendo, over 1.2 billion software program items have been offered for Change – essentially the most for any Nintendo console. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stays the console’s best-selling recreation with practically 62 million copies offered. The Change combines the console and handheld enterprise traces Nintendo previously supported with separate {hardware} and software program.
Additionally see: The Greatest Nintendo Change Offers.
2. Nintendo DS – 154.02 million
This gross sales determine comes immediately from Nintendo and encompasses complete gross sales for all programs inside the DS household, together with the unique mannequin, DS Lite, and DSi. Nintendo DS can also be the corporate’s best-performing system when it comes to software program gross sales, with practically 950 million video games offered.
See our picks for the greatest DS video games of all time.
1. PlayStation 2 – 159 million*
*PlayStation 2 stays the best-selling online game console of all time. Sony’s beloved system tops Nintendo DS by roughly 5 million items offered, whereas handily outselling each different console in existence.
As of January 31, 2011, Sony had offered 150 million PS2s to retailers. Whereas that was the final official complete reported, the console would stay in manufacturing by early 2013. Niko Companions analyst Daniel Ahmad (by way of ResetEra) famous gross sales climbed to 155.1 million by March 2012. Our grand complete of 159 million was reached utilizing Ahmad’s continued logic:
“Within the fiscal 12 months ending March 2013 a complete of 16.5 million PS3 & PS2 items had been shipped,” he wrote. “PS2 was nonetheless being shipped throughout this era so the data we’re lacking is what number of items had been PS2 and what number of had been PS3. Utilizing PS3’s 80m promote in bulletins as a information you may work backwards and finally work out that PS2 [sales from March 2012 through the end of its production] should have been near 4m,” which might carry us to our estimated gross sales complete of 159 million items.
The console’s software program gross sales sit at a staggering 1.5 billion items, in accordance with Sony, due to its large set up base and a few of the greatest PS2 video games of all time.
Jordan is a contract author for IGN.
