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. And whereas it, too, continues to be a great distance from the highest, Change’s extraordinary gross sales efficiency has earned it 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 way of the gallery beneath for our checklist of the 28 best-selling online game consoles of all time, with further data 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 probably the most just lately reported numbers and market evaluation. Unofficial gross sales totals are marked with an asterisk (*). The highest-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 Best-Selling Consoles checklist, so as. Scroll down for extra particulars and breakdowns:
- PlayStation 2 (Sony) – 159 million*
- Nintendo DS (Nintendo) – 154.02 million
- Nintendo Change (Nintendo) – 139.36 million
- Game Boy/Game Boy Coloration (Nintendo) – 118.69 million
- PlayStation 4 (Sony) – 117.2 million
28. Sega Dreamcast – 9.13 million*
*In accordance with 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 yr, the corporate reported it had bought 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 keeping with that very same report, totaled 270,000 items. We all know, due to Sega’s 2002 annual report, it will definitely bought by way of 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 (outdoors of Japan) after March 31, 2001. Nevertheless, we will seemingly low cost Europe, as remaining European stock was bought 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 bought 8.8 million items when it was discontinued within the U.S. That was the final official update from Sega, although the console would proceed to be bought in Japan for one more 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 keeping with our math), and so we’re going to just accept its Saturn complete as the very best out there guess.
26. Wii U – 13.56 million
With 13.56 million items bought, in keeping with official sales data, 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 discovered from Wii U had been essential in propelling the Change to success.
25. Sega Game Gear – 13.9 million*
*There are a number of Game Gear gross sales totals floating across the internet: 10.62 million (from an information 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 achieve an identical foothold within the handheld market, falling effectively quick of its predecessor’s gross sales complete. Sony stopped reporting gross sales figures for Vita pretty early on in its lifecycle, although estimates — from news outlets and trade analysts — put the overall someplace between 10 and 15 million. Gamesindustry.biz reported Vita “bought 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*
*In accordance with a compilation on NeoGAF of out there gross sales information, Grasp System bought 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 one more 2 million in remaining territories — akin to Australia and South Korea, the place the console reportedly bought pretty effectively —we arrive at our ultimate estimate of 20 million.
22. Xbox – 21 million*
*Whereas Microsoft hasn’t introduced an official gross sales complete for the unique Xbox, an archived post from the official Xbox web site states “greater than 24 million Xbox consoles” had been bought as of Might 2006. Complete Xbox 360 gross sales at the moment had simply hit 3.3 million items, in keeping with GamesIndustry.biz, main us to our estimate of 21 million for the unique system.
21. Xbox Sequence X|S – 21 million+*
Whereas Microsoft has maintained a coverage of not disclosing console gross sales totals since 2015, the corporate seemingly revealed Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox One figures throughout a presentation on the 2023 Greatest Worldwide Video games Competition in Brazil. In accordance with a picture posted to Twitter on June 29, Xbox Sequence X|S has to this point bought over 21 million items. That is doubtless partially due to the success of Xbox Game Move.
*We’re conserving the asterisk on this gross sales complete as we work to confirm the determine with Microsoft.
20. GameCube – 21.74 million
The GameCube ended its run with 21.74 million items bought, in keeping with Nintendo’s official numbers, making it the corporate’s second-worst-selling console thus far. Nevertheless, with 208.57 million software program items bought, the quantity of GameCube video games bought per console is the very best for any Nintendo system at 9.59.
19. Atari 2600 – 30 million*
*The oldest console on this checklist, Atari 2600 bought a powerful 30 million items in its lifetime, in keeping with an archived model of a press release from Atari companion 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 checklist.
18. Nintendo 64 – 32.93 million
Nintendo’s third residence console ended its run with slightly below 33 million items bought, in keeping with official gross sales numbers from the corporate. N64 Software program gross sales fell simply shy of 225 million items, giving it the bottom quantity of video games bought per system (6.83) for a Nintendo residence console.
See our picks for the very best 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 not possible 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 very contested and seemingly contradicted by Sega’s out there gross sales information. Compilations of that information — from internet researchers {and professional} research firms — present first-party console gross sales hit someplace between 28 and 31 million items.
Add in estimated third-party console gross sales from corporations akin to TecToy in Brazil (the place the console carried out effectively 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 companion AtGames.
16. SNES/Tremendous Famicom – 49.10 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo. Whereas the SNES fell quick of its predecessor in phrases of 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 bought for the system. The Tremendous Nintendo Leisure System — or Tremendous Famicom because it’s recognized in Japan — typically tops “greatest console” lists due to its large third-party help and iconic single- and multiplayer video games.
15. PlayStation 5 – 50 million+
PlayStation 5 is one other large success for Sony, promoting over 50 million items as of December 9, 2023. A semiconductor chip scarcity restricted Sony’s capability to fabricate new PS5s throughout its first two years available on the market, although the console is now available and monitoring with the gross sales tempo of PS4, which went on to promote 117 million items.
See our picks for the very best PS5 video games beneath.
14. Xbox One – 58 million*
Microsoft stopped reporting Xbox One gross sales numbers in October 2015, although the corporate seemingly revealed the console’s ultimate gross sales complete throughout a presentation on the 2023 Greatest Worldwide Video games Competition in Brazil. In accordance with a picture posted to Twitter on June 29, Xbox One completed its run with 58 million items bought.
If this quantity is correct, Microsoft’s eighth-generation console finally bought half as many items as Sony’s competing PS4.
*We’re conserving the asterisk on this gross sales complete as we work to confirm the determine with Microsoft.
13. NES/Famicom – 61.91 million
Nintendo’s official numbers put NES gross sales at over 61 million items. The most senior entry on this checklist, 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 useless after the online game crash that ended as soon as dominant manufacturers akin to Atari.
12. Nintendo 3DS – 75.94 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly 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. To this point, 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 very best 3DS video games of all time.
11. Game Boy Advance – 81.51 million
This official gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo. The firm additionally notes software program gross sales for the hand held closed at 377 million items. The Game Boy Advance line of units included many alternative design iterations and kind elements, the final of which was the Game Boy Micro in 2005. The top-selling mannequin was the Game Boy Advance SP, with 43.57 million items bought. The Game Boy Micro solely bought 2.42 million throughout its quick run.
See our picks for the very best 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 bought 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 bought. Nevertheless, in a 2023 post on X, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden mentioned the hand held bought over 82.5 million items.
See our picks for the very best 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 almost two years. Throughout that two-year interval, we will 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 will place Xbox 360 within the eighth spot on the checklist of best-selling consoles.
See our picks for the very best Xbox 360 video games of all time.
8. PlayStation 3 – 87.5 million*
*As of March 31, 2017, PS3 had bought 87.4 million items, in keeping with Sony. The system would stay in manufacturing by way of Might of that very same yr. With that in thoughts, it is doubtless PS3 ended its run with someplace between 87 and 88 million items bought, leaving us with our conservative estimate of 87.5.
See our picks for the very best PS3 video games of all time.
7. Nintendo Wii – 101.63 million
In accordance with official gross sales figures from Nintendo, Wii ended its run because the sixth-best-selling console of all time. With over 100 million programs bought, Wii generated 920 million items of software program gross sales — the second most for any Nintendo console.
See our picks for the very best Wii video games of all time.
6. PlayStation – 102.4 million
In accordance with Sony, the unique PlayStation’s ultimate gross sales complete sits at 102.4 million, with over 960 million software program items bought. This makes it the third-best-selling Sony console ever behind PS4 and PS2.
See our picks for the very best PS1 video games of all time.
5. PlayStation 4 – 117.2 million
PlayStation 4 dominated the eighth era of consoles. After delivery 1 million items throughout Sony’s fiscal yr 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 keeping with Niko Companions analyst Sony’s, beating PS2 to the milestone by two months. To this point, greater than a billion software program items have been bought for the console.
4. Game Boy/Game Boy Coloration – 118.69 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo and consists of gross sales of each the unique Game Boy and subsequent Game Boy Coloration. 501 million items of software program had been bought for the console — good for third on Nintendo’s all-time software program checklist.
See our picks for the very best Game Boy video games of all time.
3. Nintendo Change – 139.36 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 Game Boy. Its gross sales complete, as of December 31, 2023, now sits at 139.36 million, 14.66 million items shy of Nintendo’s best-selling {hardware}, the Nintendo DS.
In accordance with Nintendo, over 1.2 billion software program items have been bought for Change – probably the most for any Nintendo console. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stays the console’s best-selling recreation with over 60 million copies bought. 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 and when to purchase in 2023.
2. Nintendo DS – 154.02 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly 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 be the corporate’s best-performing system in phrases of software program gross sales, with almost 950 million video games bought.
See our picks for the very best 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 bought, whereas handily outselling each different console in existence. As of January 31, 2011, Sony had bought 150 million PS2s to retailers. Whereas that was the final official complete reported, the console would stay in manufacturing by way of early 2013. Niko Companions analyst Daniel Ahmad (through ResetEra) famous gross sales climbed to 155.1 million by way of March 2012. Our grand complete of 159 million was reached utilizing Ahmad’s continued logic:
“Within the fiscal yr 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 information 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 possibly can work backwards and finally work out that PS2 [sales from March 2012 through the end of its production] should have been near 4m.”
Its software program gross sales sit at a staggering 1.5 billion items, in keeping with Sony. That is doubtless due to some of the very best PS2 video games of all time.
Up to date August 4, 2022 to replicate adjustments in Change, PS5, Xbox Sequence, and different varied console gross sales for the reason that latest era of consoles started.
Jordan is a contract author for IGN.