Updated

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis vs PlayStation Portable sales

Our estimate puts the PlayStation Portable ahead by about 47.9 million units. After 7y 3m on sale each, the PSP led our model.

Sega Genesis with controller

≈ 28,540,000

Latest available figureBaseline figure: March 31, 1996The latest dated count is from 1996, not a final lifetime total. Later reporting estimates around 30 million.

Console details
PSP-1000

76,400,000

Latest available figureBaseline figure: March 31, 2012

Console details

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 / GenesisPSP
Cumulative units (estimated)≈ 28,540,00076,400,000
After 7y 3m on sale≈ 28.2M≈ 76M
ReleasedOctober 29, 1988December 12, 2004
Time on the market7y 5m7y 3m
Average per day≈ 11K≈ 29K
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

More comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Which sold more, the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis or the PlayStation Portable?

As of October 31, 2026, the PlayStation Portable leads our tracked comparison: about 76.4 million units against 28.5 million for the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, a gap of 47.9 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.

How many Sega Mega Drive / Genesis and PlayStation Portable 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)). PlayStation Portable: 76.4 million units as of March 31, 2012 (Sony annual results, fiscal year to March 2012; 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