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
| Mega Drive / Genesis | Virtual Boy | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 28,540,000 | ≈ 770,000 |
| After 8 months on sale | – | ≈ 740K |
| Released | October 29, 1988 | July 21, 1995 |
| Time on the market | 7y 5m | 8 months |
| Average per day | ≈ 11K | ≈ 3K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis or the Nintendo Virtual Boy?
As of October 31, 2026, the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis leads our tracked comparison: about 28.5 million units against 770,000 for the Nintendo Virtual Boy, a gap of 27.8 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Sega Mega Drive / Genesis and Nintendo Virtual Boy consoles have been sold?
Sega Mega Drive / Genesis: calculated from reported figures: 28.54 million units as of March 31, 1996 (Famitsu issue 392, the makers' shipment figures; sell-in (units shipped)). Nintendo Virtual Boy: calculated from reported figures: 770,000 units as of March 31, 1996 (Famitsu issue 392, the makers' shipment figures; sell-in (units shipped)).
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