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
| PS2 | Dreamcast | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 160,000,000 | 8,200,000 |
| After 2y 4m on sale | ≈ 33.6M | ≈ 8.2M |
| Released | March 4, 2000 | November 27, 1998 |
| Time on the market | 12 years | 2y 4m |
| Average per day | ≈ 36K | ≈ 10K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the PlayStation 2 or the Sega Dreamcast?
As of October 31, 2026, the PlayStation 2 leads our tracked comparison: about 160 million units against 8.2 million for the Sega Dreamcast, a gap of 151.8 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast consoles have been sold?
PlayStation 2: more than 160 million units as of March 31, 2012 (Sony Interactive Entertainment, sell-in (units shipped)); our model uses an approximately 160 million anchor based on that threshold. Sega Dreamcast: 8.2 million units as of March 31, 2001 (Sega annual report 2001; 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