List of best-selling game consoles explained

A video game console is a standardized computing device tailored for video gaming. The compact size of video game consoles allows them to be easily used in a variety of locations, making them portable.[1] Video game consoles may use one or more data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, optical discs, and memory cards for downloaded content.

A home video game console requires a computer monitor or television set as an output.[2] Handheld controllers are commonly used as input devices. Sanders Associates engineer Ralph H. Baer along with company employees Bill Harrison and Bill Rusch licensed their television gaming technology to contemporary major TV manufacturer Magnavox. This resulted in the 1972 release of the Magnavox Odyssey—the first commercially available video game console.[3]

A handheld game console is a lightweight device with a built-in screen, controls, speakers,[4] and has greater portability than a standard video game console. It is capable of playing multiple games unlike tabletop and handheld electronic game devices. The oldest handheld game console with interchangeable cartridges is the Milton Bradley Microvision from 1979.[5] Nintendo is credited with popularizing the handheld console concept with the Game Boy's release in 1989[6] and continued to dominate the handheld console market into the early 2000s.[7] [8]

Virtual reality headsets are head-mounted devices with built-in screens that are positioned in front of the user’s eyes. VR headsets intended to play virtual reality games may have handheld controllers and position-tracking accelerometers for user input.[9] Most of these are devices that must be connected to a game console or gaming PC,[10] but some are standalone game consoles, such as the Quest 2 released by Meta Platforms.[11]

Dedicated consoles are a subset of game consoles that are only able to play built-in games.[12] [13] Video game consoles in general are also described as "dedicated" in distinction from the more versatile personal computer and other consumer electronics.[14] [15] [16]

Best-selling game consoles

See also: List of best-selling game consoles by region and List of commercial failures in video games.

The following table contains video game consoles that have sold at least units worldwide either through to consumers or inside retail channels. Each console include sales from every iteration unless otherwise noted. The years correspond to when the home or handheld game console was first released (excluding test markets).

Platform! scope="col"
TypeFirmReleasedUnits sold
scope=rowPlayStation 2HomeSony2000155 million
scope=rowNintendo DSHandheldNintendo2004154.02 million[17]
scope=row style="background:#b6fcb6;" HybridNintendo2017143.42 million
scope=rowGame Boy & Game Boy ColorHandheldNintendo1989, 1998118.69 million
scope=row style="background:#b6fcb6;" HomeSony2013117.2 million[18]
scope=rowPlayStationHomeSony1994102.49 million
scope=rowWiiHomeNintendo2006101.63 million
scope=rowPlayStation 3HomeSony200687.4 million
scope=rowXbox 360HomeMicrosoft200584 million
scope=rowGame Boy AdvanceHandheldNintendo200181.51 million
scope=rowPlayStation PortableHandheldSony200480–82 million (estimate)
scope=rowHandheldNintendo201175.94 million
scope=rowFamily Computer/Nintendo Entertainment SystemHomeNintendo198361.91 million
scope=row style="background:#b6fcb6;" HomeSony202061.7 million[19]
scope=rowHomeMicrosoft2013~58 million[20]
scope=rowSuper Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemHomeNintendo199049.1 million
scope=rowNintendo 64HomeNintendo199632.93 million
scope=rowMega Drive/GenesisHomeSega198830.75 million
scope=rowAtari 2600HomeAtari197730 million
scope=rowXboxHomeMicrosoft200124 million
scope=rowNintendo GameCubeHomeNintendo200121.74 million
scope=row style="background:#b6fcb6;" HomeMicrosoft2020~21 million[21]
scope=row style="background:#b6fcb6;" VR headsetReality Labs / Meta2020~20 million[22]
scope=rowWii UHomeNintendo201213.56 million
scope=rowPlayStation VitaHandheldSony201110–15 million (estimate)
scope=rowMaster SystemHomeSega198610–13 million
scope=rowV.Smile & V.MotionHomeVTech2004, 200711 million[23]
scope=rowGame GearHandheldSega199010.62 million
scope=rowPC Engine/TurboGrafx-16HomeNEC/Hudson Soft198710 million
scope=rowSega SaturnHomeSega19949.26 million
scope=rowDreamcastHomeSega19989.13 million
scope=rowMaster System (Brazilian variants)HomeTectoy19898 million
scope=rowDendy (famiclone)HomeMicro Genius19926 million[24]
scope=rowDedicatedNintendo20175.28 million
scope=rowAdvanced Pico BeenaHomeSega20054.1 million[25]
scope=rowDedicatedNintendo20163.56 million[26]
scope=rowWonderSwan & WonderSwan ColorHandheldBandai1999, 20003.5 million
scope=rowSega PicoHomeSega19933.4 million
scope=rowDedicatedNintendo19773 million[27]
scope=rowIntellivisionHomeMattel19803 million
scope=rowMega Drive (Brazilian variants)HomeTectoy19903 million[28] [29]
scope=rowN-GageHandheldNokia20033 million
scope=rowColecoVisionHomeColeco19822 million
scope=row3DO Interactive MultiplayerHomeThe 3DO Company19932 million[30]
scope=rowNeo Geo Pocket & Neo Geo Pocket ColorHandheldSNK1998, 19992 million[31]
scope=rowMagnavox Odyssey²HomeMagnavox/Philips19782 million
scope=rowSega SG-1000HomeSega19832 million[32] [33]
scope=rowOculus GoVR headsetOculus20182 million (estimate)[34]
scope=rowAtari 7800HomeAtari19861 million
scope=rowAtari LynxHandheldAtari19891 million
scope=rowPhilips CD-iHomePhilips19901 million
scope=rowDedicatedColeco19761 million
scope=rowAtari 5200HomeAtari19821 million
scope=rowPegasus (famiclone)HomeMicro Genius19911 million[35]

References

WonderSwan Famitsu sources

Release year sources

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World, Complete . . Shelly . Gary . Misty . Vermaat . Contributing authors: Quasney, Jeffrey; Sebok, Susan; Freund, Steven . February 25, 2010 . 9781439079263 . 24 . Shelly Cashman .
  2. Book: Lee, Robin. The Oxford Handbook of the Digital Economy. August 23, 2012. Oxford University Press. Peitz. Martin. Waldfogel. Joel. 9780195397840. 84. December 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030043208/https://books.google.com/books?id=GFm-5WuYfYAC&. October 30, 2019. live.
  3. Web site: Videogames Turn 40 Years Old . https://archive.today/20130116000837/http://www.1up.com/features/videogames-turn-40 . dead . January 16, 2013 . January 15, 2014 . Edwards . Benj . . May 15, 2007 . 4 .
  4. . April 24, 2007 . D 4.1 - Standards and technology monitoring report (revised version) . Sixth Framework Programme (European Community) . 1.7 . 20 . December 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130630130213/http://www.mg-bl.com/fileadmin/downloads/deliverables/D4.1_Standards_and_technology_monitoring_report_revised_version_V1.7.pdf . June 30, 2013.
  5. Web site: East. Tom. History Of Nintendo: Game Boy. Official Nintendo Magazine. November 11, 2009. December 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110045319/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/13153/features/history-of-nintendo-game-boy/. November 10, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  6. Book: Steinbock, Dan . The Mobile Revolution . June 1, 2005 . . 9780749442965 . 150 . popularizing the handheld console concept nintendo. . registration.
  7. Web site: Patsuris. Penelope. Sony PSP Vs. Nintendo DS. Forbes. June 7, 2004. November 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131101213513/http://www.forbes.com/2004/06/07/cx_pp_0607mondaymatchup.html. November 1, 2013. live.
  8. News: Hutsko. Joe. 88 Million and Counting; Nintendo Remains King of the Handheld Game Players. The New York Times. March 25, 2000. C1. January 12, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060557/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/25/business/88-million-and-counting-nintendo-remains-king-of-the-handheld-game-players.html?pagewanted=all. June 22, 2018. live.
  9. Coburn . Joshua Q. . Freeman . Ian . Salmon . John L. . 2017-09-01 . A Review of the Capabilities of Current Low-Cost Virtual Reality Technology and Its Potential to Enhance the Design Process . Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering . en . 17 . 3 . 10.1115/1.4036921 . 1530-9827.
  10. Web site: Kuchera . Ben . 2016-01-15 . The complete guide to virtual reality in 2016 (so far) (Update: February 2016) . 2024-07-26 . Polygon . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2023-03-22 . Learn the basics of VR: Here's everything you need to know about virtual reality . 2024-07-26 . Digital Trends . en.
  12. Book: Williams, Andrew. History of Digital Games: Developments in Art, Design and Interaction. CRC Press. March 16, 2017. 69. 9781317503811. 1st.
  13. Web site: Retro Rogue . 2004 Holiday Gift Guide Review - Atari Flashback Console (Atari) . . December 30, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121029031211/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=315 . October 29, 2012.
  14. News: Chen. Brian. New Device At Nintendo Is Cheaper, For Youths. The New York Times. August 29, 2013. B1. December 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20190409215939/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/29/technology/nintendo-to-offer-lower-cost-game-device.html. April 9, 2019. live.
  15. Web site: Kuchera. Ben. It's unofficial: dedicated gaming devices may be losing out to phones. Ars Technica. February 28, 2011. December 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140101145731/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/02/versatility-rules-why-monotasking-gaming-devices-may-be-losing-steam/. January 1, 2014. live.
  16. Newman. Jared. PC Game Streaming Is Going to Be Huge. Time. November 11, 2013. December 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160220141320/http://techland.time.com/2013/11/11/pc-game-streaming-is-going-to-be-huge/. February 20, 2016. live.
  17. Web site: IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. August 18, 2024. Nintendo Co., Ltd.. en. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126154725/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html. live.
  18. Web site: 2022-05-10 . PS5 shipments top 19.3 million; PS4 tops 117.2 million . 2022-11-05 . Gematsu . en-US . November 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221121202053/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/ps5-shipments-top-19-3-million-ps4-tops-117-2-million . live .
  19. Web site: 2024-08-08 . PS5 hits 61m as Sony’s year-on-year Q1 hardware sales fall but operating income rises . 2024-08-08 . VGC . en-US.
  20. Web site: Xbox Series X/S Has Sold 21 Million Units, Xbox One at 58 Million, as Per Microsoft Brazil Presentation . 2023-06-30 . GamingBolt . en-US.
  21. Web site: Xbox Series X/S Has Sold 21 Million Units, Xbox One at 58 Million, as Per Microsoft Brazil Presentation . 2023-06-30 . GamingBolt . en-US.
  22. Web site: Heath . Alex . 2023-03-01 . This is Meta's AR / VR hardware roadmap for the next four years . 2023-04-08 . The Verge . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2015-10-13 . VTech Introduces InnoTV, Perfect Educational Gaming System for Preschoolers Offers Educator-Supported Learning Games for Under US$70 . 2023-10-25 . VTech . en-US.
  24. News: Приставка Dendy: Как Виктор Савюк придумал первый в России поп-гаджет . Dendy Prefix: How Viktor Savyuk Came Up With The First Pop-gadget In Russia . October 9, 2021 . . August 9, 2016 . ru . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142332/https://secretmag.ru/business/trade-secret/nintendo-so-slonom-kak-viktor-savyuk-pridumal-pristavku-dendy.htm . live .
  25. Web site: 2010-07-14. トイ・ストーリー3 がビーナに登場!『Beena専用ソフト シューティングビーナ トイ・ストーリー3 ウッディとバズの大冒険!』とばして!うって!つかまえて!たのしいゲームがい~っぱい!. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171021203112/http://segatoys.co.jp/company/press_release/pdf/20100714.pdf. 2017-10-21. 2023-07-22. Sega Toys. ja.
  26. News: Nintendo Switch sales near 20m, down slightly on last year . Eurogamer.net . July 31, 2018 . June 14, 2022 . May 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517153548/https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-switch-sales-near-20m-down-slightly-on-last-year . live .

  27. "[Color TV Game 6] was followed by a more powerful sequel, Color TV Game 15. A million units of each were sold. The engineering team also came up with systems that played a more complex game, called "Blockbuster," as well as a racing game. Half a million units of these were sold."

  28. Web site: Vinte anos depois, Master System e Mega Drive vendem 150 mil unidades por ano no Brasil. pt. October 18, 2012. UOL. Théo. Azevedo. Base instalada: 5 milhões de Master System; 3 milhões de Mega Drive. July 30, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424040853/https://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2012/07/30/vinte-anos-depois-master-system-e-mega-drive-vendem-150-mil-unidades-por-ano-no-brasil.htm. April 24, 2019. live.
  29. Web site: Sponsel. Sebastian. Interview: Stefano Arnhold (Tectoy). Sega-16. November 16, 2015. November 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004161631/http://www.sega-16.com/2015/11/interview-stefano-arnhold-tectoy/. October 4, 2018. live.
  30. Web site: The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time . 2023-07-14 . Blake Snow . . 2007-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080823192941/http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/111822.shtml. 2008-08-23.
  31. Web site: The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time . 2023-07-22 . Blake Snow . . 2007-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080730005444/http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/125748.shtml. 2008-07-30.
  32. Tanaka . Tatsuo . Network Externality and Necessary Software Statistics . August 2001 . . 2 .
  33. Book: Co-opetition . Adam Brandenburger, Barry Nalebuff . 238.
  34. Web site: Rodriguez . Salvador . 2019-07-14 . Facebook will never break through with Oculus, says one of the VR company's co-founders . 2024-02-12 . CNBC . en.
  35. News: Ponad milion sprzedanych egzemplarzy. Poznajcie historię Pegasusa - najpopularniejszej konsoli w Polsce . More than one million copies sold. Learn about the history of Pegasus - the most popular console in Poland . Paweł Winiarski . 2023-07-22 . 2015-05-15 . pl . AntyWeb .

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