• Welcome to Install Base!
    Join the Community and gain access to Prediction Leagues, Polls, specific answers and exclusive content now!
Headlines

Nintendo software and hardware sales data from 1983 to present

Reader mode
Great revival for a series that deserves that.
I starting played Fire Emblem Fates this week!
The special edition.
 
Switch and Wii.
Both Nintendo consoles that surpass one billion games sold.
I know the Wii "only" sold 941 million, but I consider WiiWare and Virtual Console too (like Sony do, with your systems).
 
AZfyEcs.jpg
 
SergioPL said:
Best fiscal year ever from Sega: 1992/1993
From Nintendo: 2009/2010
Click to expand...
Pretty sure that best fiscal year from Nintendo you mentioned was eclipsed in 2019/2020 and then again in the following fiscal year.
Switch is now the most profitable hardware cycle from a single platform holder in industry history, if I recall correctly.
 
Terrell said:
Pretty sure that best fiscal year from Nintendo you mentioned was eclipsed in 2019/2020 and then again in the following fiscal year.
Switch is now the most profitable hardware cycle from a single platform holder in industry history, if I recall correctly.
Click to expand...
I thought it was the fiscal year 2020/21 and then again 2021/22 with a big jump from the previous ones.
 
BTB123 said:
I thought it was the fiscal year 2020/21 and then again 2021/22 with a big jump from the previous ones.
Click to expand...
Yeah, was a year behind with the years I posted. 2nd half of the post is still relevant, though, and FY03/2020 wasn’t that far behind that prior top profit watermark anyways.
 
www.tweaktown.com

PlayStation software unit sales hit 5.82 billion across all generations

PlayStation lifetime video game software unit sales have broken 5.8 billion across all generations, PS4 and PS5 software to break 2 billion sales soon.
www.tweaktown.com www.tweaktown.com

Interesting, how Sony emerges the software sold beneath PlayStation 4 and 5 in one package.
Like Nintendo did with Game Boy/Game Boy Color.
I think this number, including download only titles.
So, in my opinion, Nintendo still ahead in software total sold.
 
SergioPL said:
www.tweaktown.com

PlayStation software unit sales hit 5.82 billion across all generations

PlayStation lifetime video game software unit sales have broken 5.8 billion across all generations, PS4 and PS5 software to break 2 billion sales soon.
www.tweaktown.com www.tweaktown.com

Interesting, how Sony emerges the software sold beneath PlayStation 4 and 5 in one package.
Like Nintendo did with Game Boy/Game Boy Color.
I think this number, including download only titles.
So, in my opinion, Nintendo still ahead in software total sold.
Click to expand...
Nintendo considers Game Boy and Game Boy Color as different models of the same family, unlike PS4 and PS5.
 
BTB123 said:
I know. Your comparison just wasn't very fitting.
I wonder if they will stop combining them at some point.
Click to expand...
For example, if we consider only exclusives Game Boy Color titles, the best selling game is Pokémon Crystal.
But, that’s only a matter of how to counting this kind of things.
 
Also, Nintendo counts the hardware of the both models combined too.
I think the Game Boy Pocket and the Light one is only a small redesign, but the Color is a new system.
They could count everything apart.
 
Do we think Bayonetta 3 will get to 1 million by the time the quarter's results are up?

Also it's kind of crazy to me that the SNES has the second lowest amount of Nintendo-published million sellers out of any Nintendo console. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising given that the amount of IP Nintendo had then was lower (no Pokemon, Animal Crossing, or smaller franchises like Pikmin etc), and that they were still supporting Gameboy already, but still crazy.
 
AngryAlchemist said:
Do we think Bayonetta 3 will get to 1 million by the time the quarter's results are up?

Also it's kind of crazy to me that the SNES has the second lowest amount of Nintendo-published million sellers out of any Nintendo console. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising given that the amount of IP Nintendo had then was lower (no Pokemon, Animal Crossing, or smaller franchises like Pikmin etc), and that they were still supporting Gameboy already, but still crazy.
Click to expand...
It’s a strange situation indeed.
But the SNES software ratio for third party is the biggest one of all the Nintendo systems.
That’s explain a lot.
 
AngryAlchemist said:
Also it's kind of crazy to me that the SNES has the second lowest amount of Nintendo-published million sellers out of any Nintendo console. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising given that the amount of IP Nintendo had then was lower (no Pokemon, Animal Crossing, or smaller franchises like Pikmin etc), and that they were still supporting Gameboy already, but still crazy.
Click to expand...
www.installbaseforum.com

Nintendo software and hardware sales data from 1983 to present

The three pillars upon which is based Nintendo's long term success are: 1) "Dokusou" also known as the will to strive for uniqueness. The challenge for the company is to continually surprise and delight the consumers instead of competing with other companies by offering similar products. 2)...
www.installbaseforum.com www.installbaseforum.com
 
Sony did the same "generations combined" obfuscation with PSP/Vita and PS3/PS4 hardware and software during their transitional years. It's annoying.

SergioPL said:
Also, Nintendo counts the hardware of the both models combined too.
I think the Game Boy Pocket and the Light one is only a small redesign, but the Color is a new system.
They could count everything apart.
Click to expand...
Nintendo views GBC the same as DSi or new 3DS. The PlayStation equivalent to it would more be PS4 Pro.

Nintendo's pretty good about giving model breakdowns and subsets too (WAY better Sony and don't even get me started on MS), but it's patchier the further you go back in their older IR. I'd love if Nintendo gave us s historical accounting for everything some day, including the stuff that slipped between the cracks like Virtual Boy or Pokémon mini.
 
Last edited:
BTB123 said:
9-9.5M for the quarter is where I expect it to be.
Click to expand...
You are thinking like me, i'm thinking 9.3 million. Also hope Switch breaks Nintendo's software record for a quarter, I think 90 million is possible.

October 1st to December 31st quarters that have hit over 70 million software shipments.

1. NSW - 85.40 million - 2021
2. Wii - 85.33 million - 2010
3. Wii - 82.37 million - 2008
4. Wii - 80.43 million - 2009
5. NDS - 78.76 million - 2008
6. NSW - 75.85 million - 2020
7. NDS - 71.39 million - 2007
 
fiendcode said:
Sony did the same "generations combined" obfuscation with PSP/Vita and PS3/PS4 hardware and software during their transitional years. It's annoying.


Nintendo views GBC the same as DSi or new 3DS. The PlayStation equivalent to it would more be PS4 Pro.

Nintendo's pretty good about giving model breakdowns and subsets too (WAY better Sony and don't even get me started on MS), but it's patchier the further you go back in their older IR. I'd love if Nintendo gave us s historical accounting for everything some day, including the stuff that slipped between the cracks like Virtual Boy or Pokémon mini.
Click to expand...
I’d love something like that too.
Maybe in a form of a book, with all kind of information.
And talking about that, the software sales from the Virtual Boy it’s a thing that maybe we never know the real numbers.
Only thing certainly. Mario Tennis it’s the best selling game on the system.
 
Last edited:
MegaBulborb said:
I wonder if Fire Emblem: Engage will be able to surpass Three Houses before the next console comes out.
Click to expand...
A month later, now that we know most of what there is to know about the game, I'm gonna say no. It will overperform in Japan but it will be down from 3H everywhere else.
 
Since we are guesstimating Switch's performance last quarter, I think it could have sold 8.2-8.5M hardware and 82-85M software.

I might be a bit enthusiastic with hardware.
 
Kenka said:
Since we are guesstimating Switch's performance last quarter, I think it could have sold 8.2-8.5M hardware and 82-85M software.

I might be a bit enthusiastic with hardware.
Click to expand...
With this, the bronze medal for the best selling console of all time pass to the Switch.
And in terms of software, 1 billion games (not counting the huge amounts of downloads only titles).
Pretty impressive!!
 
About the war of the 16 bits in the USA.
It’s true that Sega Genesis wins in 91/92/93?
And the SNES only wins in 94/95?
I think the Snes also wins in 93, but loses in 91 (due to a later launch) and 92 (year of the Sonic 2).
Just a thought.
 
With the upcoming Nintendo financial records, I think the Switch will achieve 1 billion sales games sold (not counting downloading only titles).
In my point of view, the Wii is the first Nintendo console to achieve that.
If the Big N, counts (like Sony) the downloading content, of course.
 
SergioPL said:
With the upcoming Nintendo financial records, I think the Switch will achieve 1 billion sales games sold (not counting downloading only titles).
In my point of view, the Wii is the first Nintendo console to achieve that.
If the Big N, counts (like Sony) the downloading content, of course.
Click to expand...
Well, I believe the Wii reached 1 billion with sales of Virtual Console and WiiWare games. The Switch must already have around 10,000 games in its library! I believe that about 60% of these games do not have physical media.
 
Satoshi_Mugiwara said:
Well, I believe the Wii reached 1 billion with sales of Virtual Console and WiiWare games. The Switch must already have around 10,000 games in its library! I believe that about 60% of these games do not have physical media.
Click to expand...
It’s truth!
Myself brought 62 games for the Wii (virtual console/Wiiware).
 
Off topic: I brought Mario and Rabbids II, and so far,,,,,it’s awesome. Obviously for the people who dislike the first one, this not reinvent de wheel.
But with great graphics, humor and good of battle, I highly recommended.
 
Astrogamer said:
I would assume it was from Nintendo's IR site. It likely didn't change with the 2014 CESA White Paper so that's why it wasn't updated.
Click to expand...
Did they use to have the top 10 GBA games there too? I looked through all the documents from their April 2013 financial report and nowhere was there any mention of any GBA game.
 
BTB123 said:
Where exactly were the Pokémon numbers updated as of March 2013? Where do I find the source?
Click to expand...

I believe those are from CESA and you could say they are updated as of 2021 because the totals are still in the books and have not changed a bit.

BTB123 said:
Did they use to have the top 10 GBA games there too? I looked through all the documents from their April 2013 financial report and nowhere was there any mention of any GBA game.
Click to expand...

Nintendos IR looked different back then, they the software top 10 with the DS generation and only around 2011 afaik.
 
Updated as of Dec 2022 + 2021 CESA White Papers

Please DM me for any mistakes so I can amend it.

TOP 3 GAMES PER CONSOLE
gIb48L2.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Wii Sports had to be split in half since it was skewing the graph too much.

TOP 3 GAMES PER FRANCHISE
cgk2rAi.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

Top 3 Average Sales per Franchise
QvK5gcs.png


2D MARIO SALES
ghRAJEr.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

3D MARIO SALES
tnVwNWl.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

ANIMAL CROSSING SALES
FCFc3kZ.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console

DONKEY KONG SALES
i5MZPZc.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

FIRE EMBLEM SALES
8iv1foO.png


Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers
Only includes Western released titles

F-ZERO SALES
Y49bIsy.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

KIRBY SALES
S3mDkDd.png

Blue = Handheld Console; Yellow = Home Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

LUIGI'S MANSION SALES
PSW6TNe.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

MARIO KART SALES
RV7oeZ5.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

MARIO PARTY SALES
NoBp7JX.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

MARIO RPG SALES
FQ98tJu.png

Blue = Paper Mario ; Yellow = Mario & Luigi
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

MARIO SPORTS SALES
RwkzuKi.png

Blue = Golf ; Yellow = Tennis; Green = Strikers; Orange = Baseball
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers
METROID SALES
NFxeqho.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

PIKMIN SALES
gscNgYw.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

POKEMON SALES
Ch9zN9f.png

Blue = Original Version ; Yellow = Third Version ; Green = Remake

SMASH BROS SALES
Uaqk3yY.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

SPLATOON SALES
JFmHbJl.png

Blue = Home Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

STAR FOX SALES
x628mdd.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

WARIO SALES
Ifr14my.png

Blue = Wario Land ; Yellow = Wario Ware
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

XENOBLADE SALES
7w5ro3y.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

YOSHI SALES
1AE8frI.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

2D ZELDA SALES
PbEhLgM.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

3D Zelda SALES
xS4OINI.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console

NINTENDO HARDWARE SALES
nz4L3Wu.png

Blue = Home Console ; Yellow = Handheld Console ; Green = Hybrid Console
 
About Donkey Kong Country 2 for the GBA.
Some sources claims 1 million sales, others not.
Maybe we never know for certainly.
 
Reader mode
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom