Sony’s PlayStation 2 has lengthy reigned because the best-selling online game console of all time. Regardless of its huge gross sales success, PlayStation 4 will finish its run tens of thousands and thousands of items away from the highest spot. And whereas it, too, remains to be a great distance from the highest, Swap has maintained extraordinary gross sales momentum, lately passing Wii and PS1 to grow to be the fifth best-selling console of all time.
With Swap and PS4 having secured their spots among the many all-time best-selling consoles, we got down to uncover how the remainder of Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft’s {hardware} stack up. Now midway via 2022, we have expanded our unique checklist of 15 to twenty-eight, making room for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X|S, in addition to {hardware} from former console makers Sega and Atari.
So scroll down or click on via the gallery beneath for our checklist of the 28 best-selling online game consoles of all time, with further 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 probably the most lately reported numbers and market evaluation. Unofficial gross sales totals are marked with an asterisk (*). The best-rated video games, in the meantime, come from Metacritic.)
For those who solely care in regards to the largest sellers, this is the TL;DR High 5 Greatest-Promoting Consoles checklist, so as. Scroll down for extra particulars and breakdowns:
- PlayStation 2 (Sony) – 159 million*
- Nintendo DS (Nintendo) – 154.02 million
- Recreation Boy/Recreation Boy Coloration (Nintendo) – 118.69 million
- PlayStation 4 (Sony) – 116.9 million
- Nintendo Swap (Nintendo) – 111.08 million
28. Sega Dreamcast – 9.13 million*
*In keeping 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 an extra 130,000 items in Japan and 530,000 within the U.S, bringing the gross sales whole 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 via all of that remaining stock, bringing our gross sales whole 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. Nonetheless, 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 possible a reasonably insignificant quantity contemplating it was the bottom performing of these 4 markets. As such, we’re sticking with the recognized whole 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 replace 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 simply accept its Saturn whole as the perfect out there guess.
26. Wii U – 13.56 million
With 13.56 million items bought, in keeping with official gross sales information, Wii U is Nintendo’s worst-selling console of all time by a large margin. Nonetheless, as former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé informed CNN, the teachings discovered from Wii U had been essential in propelling the Swap to success.
25. Sega Recreation Gear – 13.9 million*
*There are a number of Recreation Gear gross sales totals floating across the net: 10.62 million (from a knowledge compilation on NeoGAF), 12 million (from late Sega government Joe Miller), and “about” 14 million (from former Sega president Hideki Sato). Contemplating these three sources, we’ve opted to go along 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 the same foothold within the handheld market, falling nicely wanting its predecessor’s gross sales whole. Sony stopped reporting gross sales figures for Vita pretty early on in its lifecycle, although estimates — from information retailers and business analysts — put the whole 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. Xbox Sequence X|S – 17 million*
*Microsoft has continued its coverage of not disclosing gross sales numbers this era, making it not possible to know the precise gross sales whole of Xbox Sequence X|S. Nonetheless, in keeping with an estimate from Niko Companions senior analyst Daniel Ahmad, Microsoft had shipped over 12 million Sequence X|S consoles to retailers between its November 2020 launch and the tip of 2021.
Microsoft introduced it was the next-gen market chief in North America for 2022’s first two quarters (and globally for not less than the primary (through VGC)). Sony shipped 4.4 million PS5s from January–June 2022, in keeping with its official numbers, and so we’re assuming Xbox Sequence X|S gross sales over that very same interval are barely larger, maybe within the ballpark of 5 million, resulting in our estimate of 17 million items bought. (As famous, that is an estimate on high of an estimate; it is not meant to characterize an official gross sales determine however reasonably our greatest guess primarily based on out there information.)
We do know for sure, nevertheless, Xbox Sequence X|S stay the fastest-selling Xbox consoles of all time. (For context: Microsoft shipped 11.6 million Xbox 360s over the identical timeframe (through Reuters); Xbox One gross sales figures are unknown.)
22. Sega Grasp System/Mark III – 20 million*
*In keeping with a compilation on NeoGAF of obtainable 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 whole 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 nicely —we arrive at our remaining estimate of 20 million.
21. Xbox – 21 million*
*Whereas Microsoft hasn’t introduced an official gross sales whole for the unique Xbox, an archived submit 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.
20. PlayStation 5 – 21.6 million
PlayStation 5 is one other huge success for Sony, promoting 21.6 million items by the tip of June 2022, in keeping with its official gross sales numbers (7.8 million throughout Sony’s fiscal yr 2020, 11.4 throughout FY21, and a couple of.4 throughout FY22 up to now). A persistent chip scarcity has saved PS5 from matching the gross sales tempo of its predecessor, PS4, which has gone on to promote over 100 million items and counting.
19. 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. Nonetheless, with 208.57 million software program items bought, its variety of video games bought per console is the best for any Nintendo system at 9.59.
18. 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 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 checklist.
17. Nintendo 64 – 32.93 million
Nintendo’s third dwelling 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 variety of video games bought per system (6.83) for a Nintendo dwelling console.
16. Sega Genesis/Mega Drive – 35 million*
*The gross sales whole of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive is a subject of a lot debate amongst sport historians. The precise determine is not possible to lock down given the shortage of concrete information, however estimates typically vary from 30 to 40 million items. Aforementioned Sega government Joe Miller as soon as stated system gross sales had been over 40 million, although that quantity is extremely contested and seemingly contradicted by Sega’s out there gross sales information. Compilations of that information — from web researchers {and professional} analysis corporations — present first-party console gross sales hit someplace between 28 and 31 million items.
Add in estimated third-party console gross sales from firms akin to TecToy in Brazil (the place the console carried out nicely 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.
15. SNES/Tremendous Famicom – 49.10 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly 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 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 huge third-party help and iconic single- and multiplayer video games.
14. Xbox One – 50 million*
*Microsoft stopped reporting Xbox One gross sales in October 2015, opting to “have a look at engagement” as a “key metric for fulfillment,” in keeping with a Microsoft spokesperson (through Selection). Nonetheless, in keeping with Niko Companions analyst Daniel Ahmad, Xbox One consoles mixed to promote over 50 million items by the start of 2020. That quantity has definitely grown since, although possible not by a major quantity, as Microsoft ended Xbox One manufacturing later that yr.
13. NES/Famicom – 61.91 million
Nintendo’s official numbers put NES gross sales at over 61 million items. Essentially 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 usually credited with bringing video video games again from the lifeless 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 whole gross sales for all techniques inside the 3DS household, which incorporates all variations of Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS. Up to now, 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.
11. Recreation Boy Advance – 81.51 million
This official gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo. The corporate additionally notes software program gross sales for the hand-held closed at 377 million items. The Recreation Boy Advance line of gadgets included many various design iterations and kind components, the final of which was the Recreation Boy Micro in 2005. The highest-selling mannequin was the Recreation Boy Advance SP, with 43.57 million items bought. The Recreation Boy Micro solely bought 2.42 million throughout its brief run.
10. PlayStation Moveable – 82 million*
*Sony final reported an official gross sales whole for PSP in 2012, when it introduced the hand-held had bought 76 million items. The system would proceed to be produced for an extra two years, throughout which period it is unknown precisely what number of items had been bought. Nonetheless, in an interview with former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden, former IGN editor Colin Moriarty famous 82 million PSPs had been “within the wild,” although it is unclear if that quantity was confirmed by Layden.
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 will safely assume Microsoft transformed that 84 million determine from sell-in to sell-through, whereas, conservatively estimating, shifting an extra a million items. If correct, that might place Xbox 360 within the eighth spot on the checklist of best-selling consoles.
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 via Might of that very same yr. With that in thoughts, it is possible PS3 ended its run with someplace between 87 and 88 million items bought, leaving us with our conservative estimate of 87.5
7. Nintendo Wii – 101.63 million
In keeping with official gross sales figures from Nintendo, Wii ended its run because the sixth-best-selling console of all time. With over 100 million techniques bought, Wii generated 920 million items of software program gross sales — the second most for any Nintendo console.
6. PlayStation – 102.4 million
In keeping with Sony, the unique PlayStation’s remaining gross sales whole sits at 102.4 million, with over 960 million software program items bought. This makes it the third-best-selling Sony console ever, because it’s since been surpassed by PlayStation 4.
5. Nintendo Swap – 111.08 million
By the tip of 2021, Swap grew to become the quickest dwelling console to achieve 100 million items bought and the best-selling Nintendo dwelling console of all time. It lately handed the gross sales totals of Wii and the unique PlayStation to enter the highest 5 of this checklist, now sitting at over 111 million items bought. In keeping with Nintendo, over 863 million software program items have been bought for Swap. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stays the console’s best-selling sport, with practically 47 million copies bought. The Swap combines the console and handheld enterprise traces Nintendo previously supported with separate {hardware} and software program.
4. 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 dwelling console to achieve 100 million unit promote in,” in keeping with Niko Companions analyst Sony’s, beating PS2 to the milestone by two months. Up to now, greater than a billion software program items have been bought for the console.
3. Recreation Boy/Recreation Boy Coloration – 118.69 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo and contains gross sales of each the unique Recreation Boy and subsequent Recreation 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.
2. Nintendo DS – 154.02 million
This gross sales determine comes instantly from Nintendo and encompasses whole gross sales for all techniques 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 bought.
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 whole reported, the console would stay in manufacturing via early 2013. Niko Companions analyst Daniel Ahmad (through ResetEra) famous gross sales climbed to 155.1 million via March 2012. Our grand whole 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 may work backwards and in the end work out that PS2 [sales from March 2012 through the end of its production] will need to have been near 4m.”
Its software program gross sales sit at a staggering 1.5 billion items, in keeping with Sony.
Up to date August 4, 2022 to replicate modifications in Swap, PS5, Xbox Sequence, and different numerous console gross sales because the latest era of consoles started.
Jordan is a contract author for IGN.
