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 | PS2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 61,910,000 | ≈ 160,000,000 |
| After 12 years on sale | – | – |
| Released | July 15, 1983 | March 4, 2000 |
| Time on the market | 20y 8m | 12 years |
| Average per day | ≈ 8K | ≈ 36K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo Entertainment System or the PlayStation 2?
As of October 31, 2026, the PlayStation 2 leads our tracked comparison: about 160 million units against 61.9 million for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a gap of 98.1 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo Entertainment System and PlayStation 2 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). PlayStation 2: more than 160 million units as of March 31, 2012 (Sony Interactive Entertainment, sell-in (units shipped)); our model uses an approximately 160 million anchor based on that threshold.
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