The race from launch day
Cumulative units by months since each console's own launch. Sources can measure shipments, customer sales or estimates; figures between reports are modelled.
Side by side
| Game Boy | Xbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 118,690,000 | 24,000,000 |
| After 4y 5m on sale | ≈ 35.8M | ≈ 24M |
| Released | April 21, 1989 | November 15, 2001 |
| Time on the market | 13y 11m | 4y 5m |
| Average per day | ≈ 23K | ≈ 15K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Game Boy / Game Boy Color or the Xbox?
As of October 30, 2026, the Game Boy / Game Boy Color leads our tracked comparison: about 118.7 million units against 24 million for the Xbox, a gap of 94.7 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Game Boy / Game Boy Color and Xbox consoles have been sold?
Game Boy / Game Boy Color: 118.7 million units as of March 31, 2003 (Nintendo historical data, sales by fiscal year; 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