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
| N64 | PS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 32,930,000 | 87,400,000 |
| After 6y 9m on sale | ≈ 32.9M | ≈ 77.7M |
| Released | June 23, 1996 | November 11, 2006 |
| Time on the market | 6y 9m | 10y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 13K | ≈ 23K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo 64 or the PlayStation 3?
As of October 31, 2026, the PlayStation 3 leads our tracked comparison: about 87.4 million units against 32.9 million for the Nintendo 64, a gap of 54.5 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold?
Nintendo 64: 32.93 million units as of March 31, 2003 (Nintendo historical data, sales by fiscal year; measurement not specified). PlayStation 3: 87.4 million units as of March 31, 2017 (Sony annual results, fiscal year to March 2017; 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