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 | Saturn | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 13,000,000 | 8,800,000 |
| After 3y 4m on sale | – | – |
| Released | October 20, 1985 | November 22, 1994 |
| Time on the market | 13y 2m | 3y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 3K | ≈ 7K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Sega Master System or the Sega Saturn?
As of October 31, 2026, the Sega Master System leads our tracked comparison: about 13 million units against 8.8 million for the Sega Saturn, a gap of 4.2 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Sega Master System and Sega Saturn consoles have been sold?
Sega Master System: source estimate: 13 million units as of 1998 (JavaGear research report; measurement not specified). Sega Saturn: 8.8 million units as of March 31, 1998 (Sega annual report 1998; 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