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[Lunatic_Gamer]

Sony's latest video game console, the PlayStation 5, which is part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, has outsold the lifetime sales of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), according to VGChartz estimates.

The PS5 had sold an estimated 61.94 million units worldwide through September 2024, while the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) sold 61.91 million units lifetime.

Up next for the PS5 is the Nintendo 3DS with 75.94 million units sold, followed by the Game Boy Advance (GBA) at 81.51 million units sold and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) at 82.52 million units sold.

Breaking down sales by region, the PS5 has sold an estimated 23.80 million units in North America, 20.71 million units in Europe, 6.07 million units in Japan, and 11.35 million units in the rest of the world. This compared to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which sold 33.49 million units in North America, 8.30 million units in Europe, 19.35 million units in Japan, and 0.77 million units in the rest of the world.

Breaking down PS5 Europe sales, the console has sold an estimated 4.12 million units in the UK, 3.67 million units in Germany, and 3.18 million units in France.

The PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020 and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in Japan in July 1983, in North America in October 1985, and in Europe in September 1986. The NES is also known as Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan.

PS5 Outsells NES

Sony's latest video game console, the PlayStation 5, which is part of the ninth generation of video game [...]

www.vgchartz.com

 

[Sethbacca]

The NES is always #1 in my heart though. Pretty sure my palms still have permanent dents from the edges of those controllers.

 

[jshackles]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

 

[Hookshot]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

It's not even just the worlds populations growth, we've been giving Africa and other poor places money for 40 odd years thanks to things like "Live Aid" so they can now afford PlayStations.

 

[polybius80]

NES is an old system, industry was smaller back then, dont get me wrong, its a good achievement for a system when they sell more units than the NES as other consoles in the past did, but its not that significant if your product doesnt have the same dominance of the market as NES had back then, its like inflation, a dollar today doesnt have the same value than a dollar in the 80s, the only system that had a level of dominance like NES was the PS2 no other system after that have achieved that dominance, PS5 have good sales but I dont see it achieving that, not even wii and switch achieved that dominance

 

[midnightAI]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

The countries with the largest population growth are mainly third world countries that cannot get/afford consoles or even decent internet so it's not as simple as that.

Also, are we using that metric to downplay Switch sales?

 

[Katatonic]

They should collaborate more.

 

[MrJangles]

What a ridiculous comparison. Completely different era, market, etc.

If PS5 sales stopped at the current figure it would be a flop, not the cause for celebration some clown is making this comparison out to be.

 

[cartman414]

NES is an old system, industry was smaller back then, dont get me wrong, its a good achievement for a system when they sell more units than the NES as other consoles in the past did, but its not that significant if your product doesnt have the same dominance of the market as NES had back then, its like inflation, a dollar today doesnt have the same value than a dollar in the 80s, the only system that had a level of dominance like NES was the PS2 no other system after that have achieved that dominance, PS5 have good sales but I dont see it achieving that, not even wii and switch achieved that dominance

But consoles became more expensive following the PS2, almost never hitting the $199 mass market price for one reason or another.

 

[Kupfer]

I got one NES and two PS5, it's true I guess

 

[Zacfoldor]

Gratz on the milestone. I cheered the Switch on, might as well for the Playstation 5. I've not played this system one bit less than my PS4, so it's been really good to me.

 

[ReyBrujo]

I remember VGChartz was banned from NeoGAF, then I went dormant for a decade and now it's used as source for sales. What happened?

 

[Divus]

In just United States alone we have 107 million more people now than when the NES launched here. NES launched at $179 that with inflation would be $527 today.

 

[mckmas8808]

It's not even just the worlds populations growth, we've been giving Africa and other poor places money for 40 odd years thanks to things like "Live Aid" so they can now afford PlayStations.

Giving money to Africa? You want to rephrase that?

 

[kazuyamishima]

I remember VGChartz was banned from NeoGAF, then I went dormant for a decade and now it's used as source for sales. What happened?

Their method of “tracking” got better.

 

[Fafalada]

Also, are we using that metric to downplay Switch sales?

Of course not - Switch is selling to audiences from 10 years ago...

 

[mckmas8808]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

The PS5 has to compete with the entertainment the WHOLE INTERNET provides. Did the NES?

 

[DryvBy]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

The Biden inflation is so bad, even the world is inflated!

 

[Walter Matthau]

Game music was the best in the NES/TurboGrafx era.

 

[sono]

How is it doing against ps4

 

[polybius80]

But consoles became more expensive following the PS2, almost never hitting the $99 mass market price for one reason or another.

I am talking about the dominance, price and number of units doesnt matter that much, sure they are important numbers and sure they represent earning lot of money and that is the most important for a company but for the history of this industry the most popular system is the most dominant, that is why there is not much relevance or importance for threads about PS5 surpassing sega master system sales numbers or colecovision sales, you remember threads about t? I dont, its the NES you want to compare to, because people want to measure with a legendary system, but that system is legendary for the popularity/dominance for the people/industry at the time, not for the money it gave to the developers with its price and number of units

 

[TGO]

Not exactly hard if you're a successful product in 2024

 

[Euler007]

It passed a notable console on the all-time list, that's all. No need to take pot shots.

 

[Crayon]

Numbers don't lie. NES' days are numbered.

 

[Sooner]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

Yes, we should totally be keeping track of sales in percentage of Earth's population. /s

I wonder how the Wii U did Earth population-percentage wise.

 

[E-Cat]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

An even more salient figure is the percentage of the population that was gaming -- by that metric, NES was a lot more dominant.

 

[bender]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

I'm working on getting that number to zero.

 

[Hookshot]

Giving money to Africa? You want to rephrase that?

The world is richer than 40 years ago due to aid and investment from the west. Since then the UK for example has given Nigeria hundreds of millions of pounds per year. Nigerians can now buy the PS5, emerging markets like that didn't exist when the NES was on sale.

 

[polybius80]

I wonder how the Wii U did Earth population-percentage wise.

I think we can compare it to dreamcast number wise

 

[onQ123]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

But SNES & N64 sold less in the 90's & GameCube sold less in the 2000's & Wii U sold a lot less in 2010's

 

[Paulistano]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

Should we say the same when Switch surpass the sales of PS2?

 

[A.Romero]

It's just a reference, you guys. This notes generate clicks and clicks keep those sites alive. No need to point out the obvious about market size and population.

 

[mckmas8808]

The world is richer than 40 years ago due to aid and investment from the west. Since then the UK for example has given Nigeria hundreds of millions of pounds per year. Nigerians can now buy the PS5, emerging markets like that didn't exist when the NES was on sale.

Cool. I just wouldn't call that "giving" them money. Investing? Yes. Paying back what is owed? Yes. Your overall point does stand though!

 

[Physiognomonics]

Game music was the best in the NES/TurboGrafx era.

Let's not get crazy now

 

[mckmas8808]

It's just a reference, you guys. This notes generate clicks and clicks keep those sites alive. No need to point out the obvious about market size and population.

The obvious that people are pointing out is dumb. The NES was around when we had no computers in our homes, 10 channels, and no cell phones. Some people on GAF are just weird.

 

[A.Romero]

The obvious that people are pointing out is dumb. The NES was around when we had no computers in our homes, 10 channels, and no cell phones. Some people on GAF are just weird.

I mean, it was almost 40 years ago. It was a completely different world. It doesn't reflect in quality, strategy or anything worth discussing.

I mean Wii U, N64, Xbox One, Dreamcast and SAtur are some of the consoles that didn't reach that milestone even with better conditions. It doesn't matter.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Their method of “tracking” got better.

That or the fact that NPD stopped supplying numbers left no other alternative, yeah.

 

[onQ123]

That or the fact that NPD stopped supplying numbers left no other alternative, yeah.

Nintendo & PlayStation give us updated numbers ever 3 months though In fact we should be getting new numbers in the next few weeks

IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units

www.nintendo.co.jp

 

[pasterpl]

But consoles became more expensive following the PS2, almost never hitting the $199 mass market price for one reason or another.

At the same time households income increased.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Weird milestone to hang your hat on.

 

[Fabieter]

At the same time households income increased.

Average salery in 1980 was like 13.000usd thats close to 50k now. So i dont think its changed that much.

 

[pasterpl]

Average salery in 1980 was like 13.000usd thats close to 50k now. So i dont think its changed that much.

Almost 4x increase is not much?

Don’t think your data is correct https://www.statista.com/statistics/500385/median-household-income-in-the-us-by-income-tier/

 

[mckmas8808]

I mean, it was almost 40 years ago. It was a completely different world. It doesn't reflect in quality, strategy or anything worth discussing.

I mean Wii U, N64, Xbox One, Dreamcast and SAtur are some of the consoles that didn't reach that milestone even with better conditions. It doesn't matter.

Yeah that's my point too. People saying that the population has doubled since then, I also think that doesn't matter either. It's weird people would want to poo poo this.

 

[nial]

Why are we complaining about comparisons or talking about world population? It's just something that happened and that's it, like Euler007 said:

It passed a notable console on the all-time list, that's all. No need to take pot shots.

 

[Loomy]

It's not even just the worlds populations growth, we've been giving Africa and other poor places money for 40 odd years thanks to things like "Live Aid" so they can now afford PlayStations.

er...lol, not quite how that went. but I see your point.

 

[SweetTooth]

World population in 1985: 4.8 billion
World population in 2024: 8.1 billion

Comparing a modern game console's lifetime sales to that of one sold when the world's population was nearly half feels... weird. Like, a higher percentage of people on the planet owned a NES than currently own a PS5.

But congrats Sony, I guess.

Sooooooo...Apply same logic to PS2 vs Switch

 

[mckmas8808]

Why are we complaining about comparisons or talking about world population? It's just something that happened and that's it, like Euler007 said:

Exactly!

 

[jm89]

Sooooooo...Apply same logic to PS2 vs Switch

 

[RoboFu]

Wait does the op think that the game industry was as big and popular back then?

You can't really compare old numbers to new number literally.

 

[Ceadeus]

Well I hope so. There was like 3 millions human living on earth in 85