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
| Master System | DS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 13,000,000 | 154,020,000 |
| After 11y 4m on sale | – | ≈ 154M |
| Released | October 20, 1985 | November 21, 2004 |
| Time on the market | 13y 2m | 11y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 3K | ≈ 37K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Sega Master System or the Nintendo DS?
As of October 31, 2026, the Nintendo DS leads our tracked comparison: about 154 million units against 13 million for the Sega Master System, a gap of 141 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Sega Master System and Nintendo DS consoles have been sold?
Sega Master System: source estimate: 13 million units as of 1998 (JavaGear research report; 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