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 | Master System | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 27,640,000 | ≈ 13,000,000 |
| After 13y 2m on sale | – | – |
| Released | September 11, 1977 | October 20, 1985 |
| Time on the market | 14y 3m | 13y 2m |
| Average per day | ≈ 5K | ≈ 3K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Atari 2600 or the Sega Master System?
As of October 31, 2026, the Atari 2600 leads our tracked comparison: about 27.6 million units against 13 million for the Sega Master System, a gap of 14.6 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Atari 2600 and Sega Master System consoles have been sold?
Atari 2600: source estimate: 27.64 million units as of January 1, 1992 (Guinness World Records; measurement not specified). Sega Master System: source estimate: 13 million units as of 1998 (JavaGear research report; 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