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 | Switch | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 118,690,000 | ≈ 157,060,388 |
| After 9y 7m on sale | ≈ 72.8M | ≈ 157M |
| Released | April 21, 1989 | March 3, 2017 |
| Time on the market | 13y 11m | 9y 7m |
| Average per day | ≈ 23K | ≈ 45K |
| Status | Discontinued | On sale |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Game Boy / Game Boy Color or the Nintendo Switch?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nintendo Switch leads our tracked comparison: about 157.1 million units against 118.7 million for the Game Boy / Game Boy Color, a gap of 38.4 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Game Boy / Game Boy Color and Nintendo Switch 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 Switch: 156.6 million units as of June 30, 2026 (Nintendo earnings, quarter to June 2026; sell-in (units shipped)).
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