The race from launch day
Cumulative units by months since each console's own launch. Figures between reports are modelled; where reports are years apart, the line is a rough approximation, not observed annual sales.
Side by side
| Atari 2600 | Xbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 27,640,000 | 24,000,000 |
| After 4y 5m on sale | – | ≈ 24M |
| Released | September 11, 1977 | November 15, 2001 |
| Time on the market | 14y 3m | 4y 5m |
| Average per day | ≈ 5K | ≈ 15K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Atari 2600 or the Xbox?
As of October 31, 2026, the Atari 2600 leads our tracked comparison: about 27.6 million units against 24 million for the Xbox, a gap of 3.6 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Atari 2600 and Xbox consoles have been sold?
Atari 2600: source estimate: 27.64 million units as of January 1, 1992 (Guinness World Records; measurement not specified). Xbox: 24 million units as of May 10, 2006 (Microsoft, via The Register; measurement not specified).
Figures can measure shipments, customer sales or estimates; these are not directly interchangeable. Between reports our model projects an estimate, not observed transactions. The changing digits show the model's output, not its accuracy. Its inputs and assumptions are corrected when new figures are available. Sources and method