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 | Mega Drive / Genesis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 61,910,000 | ≈ 28,540,000 |
| After 7y 5m on sale | – | ≈ 28.5M |
| Released | July 15, 1983 | October 29, 1988 |
| Time on the market | 20y 8m | 7y 5m |
| Average per day | ≈ 8K | ≈ 11K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo Entertainment System or the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis?
As of October 31, 2026, the Nintendo Entertainment System leads our tracked comparison: about 61.9 million units against 28.5 million for the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, a gap of 33.4 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Mega Drive / Genesis 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). Sega Mega Drive / Genesis: calculated from reported figures: 28.54 million units as of March 31, 1996 (Famitsu issue 392, the makers' shipment figures; sell-in (units shipped)).
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