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 | NES | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 27,640,000 | 61,910,000 |
| After 14y 3m on sale | – | – |
| Released | September 11, 1977 | July 15, 1983 |
| Time on the market | 14y 3m | 20y 8m |
| Average per day | ≈ 5K | ≈ 8K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Atari 2600 or the Nintendo Entertainment System?
As of October 31, 2026, the Nintendo Entertainment System leads our tracked comparison: about 61.9 million units against 27.6 million for the Atari 2600, a gap of 34.3 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System consoles have been sold?
Atari 2600: source estimate: 27.64 million units as of January 1, 1992 (Guinness World Records; measurement not specified). Nintendo Entertainment System: 61.91 million units as of March 31, 2004 (Nintendo annual results, fiscal year to March 2004; 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