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 | GameCube | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 118,690,000 | 21,740,000 |
| After 6y 6m on sale | ≈ 46.6M | ≈ 21.7M |
| Released | April 21, 1989 | September 14, 2001 |
| Time on the market | 13y 11m | 6y 6m |
| Average per day | ≈ 23K | ≈ 9K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Game Boy / Game Boy Color or the Nintendo GameCube?
As of October 30, 2026, the Game Boy / Game Boy Color leads our tracked comparison: about 118.7 million units against 21.7 million for the Nintendo GameCube, a gap of 97 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Game Boy / Game Boy Color and Nintendo GameCube 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). Nintendo GameCube: 21.74 million units as of March 31, 2008 (Nintendo annual results, fiscal year to March 2008; 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