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
| NES | PS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 61,910,000 | 87,400,000 |
| After 10y 4m on sale | ≈ 56.7M | ≈ 87.3M |
| Released | July 15, 1983 | November 11, 2006 |
| Time on the market | 20y 8m | 10y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 8K | ≈ 23K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo Entertainment System or the PlayStation 3?
As of October 30, 2026, the PlayStation 3 leads our tracked comparison: about 87.4 million units against 61.9 million for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a gap of 25.5 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo Entertainment System and PlayStation 3 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 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