The online game trade is a profitable enterprise, with some house consoles promoting tens of hundreds of thousands of models worldwide. How nicely every console bought is a superb measure of what went proper throughout that specific technology. It’s an efficient option to gauge a selected producer’s success whereas seeing what players gravitated towards — and whether or not or not a console has gimmicky options or concepts that stick round.
Earlier than stepping into the bestselling consoles, it’s necessary to notice that this listing doesn’t embody devoted handhelds. These figures don’t account for used system gross sales since producers don’t have a option to monitor these transactions (and don’t earn revenue from them, anyway). As well as, newer methods just like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X aren’t included on this listing just because they haven’t been round lengthy sufficient to achieve main gross sales milestones (although they’re each on monitor to turn into among the bestselling consoles of all time).
These methods are additionally house to among the bestselling video games of all time, which now we have a separate listing for.
10. Tremendous Nintendo Leisure System — 49.10 million
Many players have a comfortable spot for the SNES — a system that featured among the most beloved video games of all time. Video games like Tremendous Mario Kart, Chrono Set off, Earthbound, Tremendous Metroid, and Tremendous Mario World are simply among the titles you would possibly bear in mind. It took most of what the unique NES did nicely and improved upon it, giving its viewers thrilling and memorable 16-bit experiences. Although it didn’t promote fairly in addition to the NES, it nonetheless did respectably, and we owe rather a lot to what this method was capable of do in 1991.
9. Xbox One — 50.56 million
It could be shocking, however regardless of “shedding” the earlier technology, Microsoft has nonetheless achieved nicely with the Xbox One. Even after getting off to such a tough begin following the system’s reveal in 2013, the Xbox One was capable of flip issues round, due to its many consumer-friendly options like Xbox Recreation Go, Play Wherever, and Video games with Gold. Microsoft has not publicly introduced the system’s actual gross sales figures, however an estimated 50.56 million have been bought since its launch seven years in the past.
8. Nintendo Leisure System — 61 million
Video video games wouldn’t be what they’re right this moment with out the NES, interval. On the time, it gave shoppers a option to have arcade-like experiences at house and revolutionized the concept of video video games basically. Although house consoles existed previous to this, it’s the machine that put them on the map, giving individuals a option to affordably play video games at house. It was additionally the beginning of so many beloved franchises we love right this moment, like Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and Mega Man. Different consoles went on to outsell it, however its affect is simply as necessary right this moment because it was over 35 years in the past.
7. Xbox 360 — 85 million
Very like the NES and SNES earlier than it, the Xbox 360 revolutionized the way in which we play video games. It popularized HD visuals, offering shoppers with beautiful experiences that maintain up even right this moment. Though different consoles featured on-line performance earlier than it, the Xbox 360 made on-line console gaming way more mainstream. However the video games are what really make this machine shine. Titles like Gears of Conflict, Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout 3, BioShock, and Mass Impact are simply among the spectacular video games this method has. Contemplating how softly the unique Xbox bought, Microsoft struck gold with the Xbox 360. It reached round 85 million models bought as of April 2022.
6. PlayStation 3 — 87 million
As with the Xbox One, the PS3 bought off to a rocky begin. Telling your viewers to get a second job to afford a $600 machine was most undoubtedly not the way in which to go, however Sony managed to show issues round to outsell the Xbox 360. The PS3 had incredible concepts, however as soon as once more, video games are what resonated with its viewers. At its peak, the console was pushing indie titles like Journey, Hotline Miami, and Guacamelee!, and its AAA experiences just like the Uncharted trilogy, Metallic Gear Strong 4, God of Conflict 3, Gran Turismo 5, and The Final of Us gave its viewers a motive to purchase the console. Whereas it had its shortcomings, the PS3 is a crucial benchmark in online game historical past. As of 2017, the machine bought over 87 million models.
5. Nintendo Wii — 101 million
There hasn’t been something fairly just like the Wii. It was a system grandma might play. Everybody needed one, and for the primary yr or two after it launched, it was bought out all over the place. Although it was aimed toward a broader viewers, specializing in informal experiences like Wii Sports activities and Wii Match, the system nonetheless had a handful of video games for “core” players. The Tremendous Mario Galaxy video games are nonetheless thought-about among the better of all time, whereas entries like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword are fondly remembered right this moment. Say what you need in regards to the gimmicky movement controls — the Wii was a behemoth that managed to surpass 101 million models bought.
4. PlayStation — 102 million
In the event you can consider it, the unique PlayStation (as we all know it) virtually didn’t occur. On the time, Nintendo and PlayStation have been in talks to companion with each other for the 64-bit console technology. As you may most likely guess, it by no means occurred. And we’re so glad it didn’t. Sony went off to create the PlayStation, which is the console many people grew up with. It featured a breadth of marquee titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Resident Evil, Tekken, Silent Hill, Metallic Gear Strong, and Remaining Fantasy VII. As one of many first disc-based consoles, it gave its customers a option to hearken to music through CDs, which doubtless bolstered its gross sales, resulting in over 102 million models bought.
3. Nintendo Swap — 107 million
Though the Swap is playable in handheld mode, we’re counting it as a house console — particularly because it’s the principle system Nintendo is supporting at present. And what a system it’s. It’s one of the vital distinctive consoles in historical past, giving its viewers the power to take it on the go, play it at house, or play in tabletop mode with buddies. Not solely has it surpassed the gross sales of the Xbox One, SNES, and others, but it surely’s achieved so in report time. In line with Nintendo, video games for the Swap will proceed to launch for years to come back, so it has the potential to outsell the PS4 worldwide. Presently, the Swap sits at round 107 million models bought. With super experiences like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tremendous Mario Odyssey, and even third-party video games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it’s straightforward to see why it’s achieved so nicely.
2. PlayStation 4 — 117 million
Sony bought off on the fitting foot with the PS4. From the very begin of its life cycle in 2013, the messaging was clear, the value was proper, and the video games have been (and nonetheless are) monumental. It expanded upon the concepts launched with the PS3, with the next concentrate on on-line constancy and its person expertise. Its lineup of video games is arguably one of many strongest in historical past, with the likes of Bloodborne, God of Conflict, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Purple Useless Redemption 2, Persona 5, Uncharted 4, and Horizon Zero Daybreak, charming audiences across the globe. As of Could 2022, the PS4 has surpassed 117 million models bought.
1. PlayStation 2 — 157 million
The PS2 was, definitely, the bestselling gaming console ever. Its gross sales statistics have been so big that we couldn’t think about one other console evaluating for an extended whereas. The PS2 was one of many period’s most inexpensive DVD gamers and likewise allowed you to play over 3,500 printed video games. It was a tremendous time to sport due to all these choices, and the PS2 bought nicely all around the globe. No matter you wanted – Gran Turismo 4, Remaining Fantasy X, Metallic Gear Strong 3, God of Conflict, and even Grand Theft Auto III — the PS2 had you lined. It reached over 157 million models bought as of April 2022.
The PS2 took over a decade for Sony to design, construct, and launch — but it surely was nicely definitely worth the wait. The PS2 capitalized on the unique console’s finest parts and eradicated the issues. The console set the stage for most of the hottest and beloved online game franchises of our time. The PS2 is iconic, holding a spot in players’ hearts that has lasted by way of altering occasions and developments. Enjoying remastered video games or sequels provides the most effective sense of well-being and nostalgia. We’re nonetheless ready for an additional console to vary the sport as considerably because the PS2.
Editors’ Selection