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
| DS | PS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 154,020,000 | 87,400,000 |
| After 10y 4m on sale | ≈ 154M | – |
| Released | November 21, 2004 | November 11, 2006 |
| Time on the market | 11y 4m | 10y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 37K | ≈ 23K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo DS or the PlayStation 3?
As of October 31, 2026, the Nintendo DS leads our tracked comparison: about 154 million units against 87.4 million for the PlayStation 3, a gap of 66.6 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo DS and PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold?
Nintendo DS: 154 million units as of March 31, 2016 (Nintendo IR Historical Data - Consolidated Sales Transition by Region, as of March 31, 2016, pdf; 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