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
| DS | Steam Deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 154,020,000 | ≈ 4,943,562 |
| After 4y 8m on sale | ≈ 109M | ≈ 4.9M |
| Released | November 21, 2004 | February 25, 2022 |
| Time on the market | 11y 4m | 4y 8m |
| Average per day | ≈ 37K | ≈ 3K |
| Status | Discontinued | On sale |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo DS or the Steam Deck?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nintendo DS leads our tracked comparison: about 154 million units against 4.9 million for the Steam Deck, a gap of 149.1 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo DS and Steam Deck 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). Steam Deck: our estimate: 4.9 million units as of May 27, 2026 (Estimate from Boiling Steam's weekly figures; 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