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
| NES | DS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 61,910,000 | 154,020,000 |
| After 11y 4m on sale | – | ≈ 154M |
| Released | July 15, 1983 | November 21, 2004 |
| Time on the market | 20y 8m | 11y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 8K | ≈ 37K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo Entertainment System or the Nintendo DS?
As of October 31, 2026, the Nintendo DS leads our tracked comparison: about 154 million units against 61.9 million for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a gap of 92.1 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo DS consoles have been sold?
Nintendo Entertainment System: 61.91 million units as of March 31, 2004 (Nintendo annual results, fiscal year to March 2004; measurement not specified). 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).
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