HT Games
Home  >> Internet Games >> Game Boy

How Many Game Boys Sold in the First Year?

You need to specify which Game Boy model and which region/year—sales differ drastically.

First-Year Sell-Through (Shipped + Sold Estimates)

ModelLaunchRegionFirst 12 MonthsSource
Game Boy (DMG)Apr 1989 (JP)
Jul 1989 (NA)		Japan~1.5MNintendo IR
North America~1M (Jul 89–Jul 90)NPD / Nintendo
Global~3–4MEstimate (incl. EU 1990)
Game Boy PocketJul 1996 (JP)
Sep 1996 (NA)		Japan~1.2MNintendo IR
North America~800KNPD
Game Boy ColorOct 1998 (JP)
Nov 1998 (NA)		Japan~2.5MNintendo IR
North America~2M (Nov 98–Nov 99)NPD
Global~6–7MHoliday 1999 boom
Game Boy AdvanceMar 2001 (JP)
Jun 2001 (NA)		Japan~1.8MNintendo IR
North America~2.5M (Jun 01–Jun 02)NPD
Global~6MNintendo FY2001 report

Notes

  • "Shipped" ≠ "Sold to consumer" but Nintendo reports sell-through for major markets.
  • NA 1989 Game Boy supply-constrained (Tetris bundle drove demand).
  • GBC 1998 holiday + Pokémon Yellow = massive Q4.
  • GBA 2001 launch supply tight; Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (2002/2003) drove year 2.

Clarify model + region for precise figure.

Game Boy
Game Boy

https://www.htfbw.com © HT Games