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
| Xbox | Wii U | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 24,000,000 | 13,560,000 |
| After 4y 1m on sale | ≈ 23.8M | ≈ 13.5M |
| Released | November 15, 2001 | November 18, 2012 |
| Time on the market | 4y 5m | 4y 1m |
| Average per day | ≈ 15K | ≈ 9K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Xbox or the Nintendo Wii U?
As of October 30, 2026, the Xbox leads our tracked comparison: about 24 million units against 13.6 million for the Nintendo Wii U, a gap of 10.4 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Xbox and Nintendo Wii U consoles have been sold?
Xbox: 24 million units as of May 10, 2006 (Microsoft, via The Register; measurement not specified). Nintendo Wii U: 13.56 million units as of December 31, 2016 (Nintendo earnings, quarter to December 2016; 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