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
| Wii U | Steam Deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 13,560,000 | ≈ 4,943,562 |
| After 4y 1m on sale | ≈ 13.5M | ≈ 4.8M |
| Released | November 18, 2012 | February 25, 2022 |
| Time on the market | 4y 1m | 4y 8m |
| Average per day | ≈ 9K | ≈ 3K |
| Status | Discontinued | On sale |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo Wii U or the Steam Deck?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nintendo Wii U leads our tracked comparison: about 13.6 million units against 4.9 million for the Steam Deck, a gap of 8.6 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo Wii U and Steam Deck consoles have been sold?
Nintendo Wii U: 13.56 million units as of December 31, 2016 (Nintendo earnings, quarter to December 2016; 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