Console Wars: The Real and Most Complete Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Games Sales Figures !

Console Wars: The Real and Most Complete Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Games Sales Figures !

Even with very incomplete data available for Mega Drive / Sega Genesis, it is very clear that the Mega Drive / Sega Genesis, surpasses snes/sfc in all categories of software commercialization, including:
1. Software sales figures;
2. Attach rate;
3. Revenue;
4. Rentals;
5. On-line game rental or download;
6. Number of games that sold over a million copies.
7. The best-selling game
8. The best-selling franchises

Software Sales Figures:
Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (incomplete data): over 576,161,130 units*
snes/super famicom (complete data): 379,060,000 units
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games
*this sales figures for the Sega Genesis  / Mega Drive are very incomplete. The actual number is much greater than 576,161,130 units, as will be explained further below:

Japan (1988-1995): 57.28 million software units
Western Europe (1990-1997):  146.72 million software units
Western Europe (1998): 162.222 (estimate)
Western Europe (1999-2011): 486,666 hardware units = At least 486,666 software units
North America (1989-1997): 328,254,464 software units
North America (1997): 9 million software units
North America (1998): 10 million software units
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games
Australia (1990-1999): 1,193,571 (estimate)
More info at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models_14.html
Oceania (other, 1990-1999): unknown
Brazil (1990-2016): 30,284,000 and 33,484,000 (1990-2019)
More info. at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models.html
Americas (other): unknown
Africa: unknown
South Korea (1989-1999): 469,500 (estimate)
Asia (other, 1989-1999): at least 900,000 (estimate, considering a minimum of 3 games per console)
Japan (2001-2016): average number per console unit: 5.5; total 330,000 software units (estimate)
North America (2004-2016): 7,000,000 hardware units (estimate) and 150,100,000 (estimate considering only built-in classic Sega Genesis games)
Europe (2004-2016):  40,300,000 (estimate considering only built-in classic Mega Drive games)
Australia (2004-2016): 4,150,000 (estimate considering only built-in classic Mega Drive games)
Asia (2000-2016): 9,125,000 (estimate considering only built-in classic Mega Drive games)
Total (1988-2016):  788,081,852
Total (2017-2020): not included in the estimate

Mega Drive / Sega Genesis (1988-2016):  788,081,852 software units (estimate)
snes/super famicom (complete data): 379,060,000 software units


Attach rate (per console):
Sega Mega Drive / Genesis  (even with incomplete data on software sales*):  16
snes/super famicom (complete date): 7.72
*even considering very incomplete sales figures of 576,161,130 software units
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games
Therefore, more than doubling the snes Attach rate. The Attach rate of the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive is considered the second highest of all time, behind only that of the Sega Master System.
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Software_tie_ratio
These Attach rates for the Master System and Mega Drive could be even higher considering that the software sales figures of both are incomplete. On the other hand, these very high attach rates are also a sign that Sega's incomplete hardware sales estimates are considerably underestimated.
More information at:
https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/console-wars-real-sega-genesis-mega.html (Genesis/ MD)
https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2013/01/console-wars-true-story-part-1.html (Master System)

Revenue:
Even in its worst year, due to the war between Sega of America and Sega’s Japanese headquarters over the launch of Sega Saturn, in terms of wholesale software revenue in 1995, Sega generated $1.773 billion in the United States, compared to Nintendo's $1.486 billion.
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games

Rentals:
In the United States, Sega Genesis software dominated video game rentals. More than 60% of Sega Genesis game cartridges that were sold were rented first.
Reference:
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games

Online game rental or download:
The Sega Genesis / Mega Drive was a pioneer in this category and also a world leader in the world market.
Reference:
https://segaretro.org/Sega_Channel
https://segaretro.org/Sega_Game_Toshokan


Sales figures calculation method and why the huge underestimation of Sega Genesis games sales figures:
Sega has never released a total sales figure for hardware or software.
The following data were missing from the source estimate used:(https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fourth_generation_of_video_games)

North America (2004-2020): sales in that 16-year period were totally disregarded, precisely a period with high attach rate per console sold.
Western Europe (1990-1998): Only the number of consoles sold was considered as the minimum number of games sold.This number is very underestimated even considering only games sold together with the console (considering only 1 game per console). Below are some examples of versions sold with more than one game in Western Europe. In addition, all cartridges sold were disregarded.
a. Mega Drive with Sonic The hedgehog + Streets of Rage. Sales figures: around 50,000 units sold
https://consolevariations.com/variation/console/sega-mega-drive-sonic-the-hedgehog-streets-of-rage
b. Mega Drive with Sonic The hedgehog + 2 games (Super Sonic Offer Edition): around 5,000 units sold. https://consolevariations.com/variation/console/sega-mega-drive-supersonic-offer-bundle
c. Mega Dive II - Mega Games 1 & 2 bundle (6 games): around 10,000 units sold
https://consolevariations.com/variation/console/sega-mega-driver-ii-mega-games-1-2
d. Mega Dive II - Big Pack 6 (6 games): around 50,000 units sold
https://consolevariations.com/variation/console/big-6-sega-mega-drive
e. Mega Dive II - Mega 6 Pack 6 (France): around 10,000 units sold
f. Sega Mega Drive II Rocket Knight Adventures + Castlevania Bundle: around 50,000 units sold
https://consolevariations.com/variation/console/sega-mega-drive-ii-rocket-knight-adventures-castlevania-bundle
Western Europe (1999-2001): Only the number of consoles sold was considered as the minimum number of games sold.This number is very underestimated even considering only yokes sold together with the console, because in that period many consoles were sold with pack-in with several games: https://segaretro.org/Mega_Games_3
Western Europe (2004-2020): sales in that 16-year period were totally disregarded, precisely a period with high attach rate per console sold.
Japan (2001-2020): sales in that 16-year period were totally disregarded, precisely a period with high attach rate per console sold.
Australia: Sales were completely ignored, even though it was a country where Sega completely dominated the market. The minimum number of games sold by Ozi Soft in Australia is 1,193,571. More information at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models_14.html
South Korea: Sales were completely ignored, even though it was a country where Sega completely dominated the market. At least 139 licensed games were released in the country.
Brazil (1990-1996):  Only the number of consoles sold was considered as the minimum number of games sold. More information at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models.html
Brazil (1997-2012): Only the number of consoles sold was considered as the minimum number of games sold, also considering a very underestimated number of bundled games with each console. More information at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models.html
Brazil (2013-2020): sales in that 8-year period were totally disregarded, precisely a period with high attach rate per console sold.
Minimum estimate of total Mega Drive games sold by TecToy until 2019 = 44,792,000 games
Minimum estimate of total Mega Drive software units sold by TecToy until 2019 = 33,484,000
More information at: https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/complete-list-of-mega-drive-models.html
Other countries (1990-1993-partial): Only the number of consoles sold was considered as the minimum number of games sold.  All cartridges sold were disregarded.
Other countries (end of 1993 - 2020): Sales were completely ignored, precisely a period with high attach rate per console sold.  All cartridges sold were disregarded.

In conclusion: the number of Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games sold is well over 576,161,130 units reported in that reference. Other references available on the internet are even more incomplete.


List of best-selling video games:
Over 60 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games have far surpassed the mark of one million units sold. As available sales reports are partial and very incomplete, these figures were never properly disclosed on the internet. However, it is possible to at least reach that minimum number of games sold through the number of games sold bundled with the consoles. This considering only the games sold for Mega Drive / Sega Genesis and compatible models from 1988 to 2020. In addition, dozens of these Mega Drive games for 23 years have been sold alone or in compilations for other more recent consoles and PCs and for at least twelve years also on Smart Phones. Since 2016 the Mega Drive games were on sale on Steam and the initial sales figures were over 350,000 games in 2016. Reference:
http://www.seganerds.com/2016/05/18/sega-sold-over-350000-mega-drivegenesis-games-on-steam/


The Best Selling Game:
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991):
Although the number of sales of the game is not known, it is considered the record holder in re-releases and it may even be the the best-selling game of all time.
a. Bundled on Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog sold over 15 million units bundled on Sega Genesis (between late 1991 and early 1993, depending on the region)
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#cite_note-youtube-48
b. Bundled on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (late 1993-2020): unknown
c. Cartridges: unknown
d. Other licensed cartridges sold in compilations with other Mega Drive / Sega Genesis Games such as:
Sonic Classics: unknown sales figures
6-Pack: unknown sales figures
Mega 6 vol. 3: unknown sales figures
Telstar Double Value Games: unknown sales figures
10 Super Jogos: unknown sales figures
Mega Games 10: unknown sales figures
e. Bundled whit Sega CD: unknown sales figures
f. Mega-Tech: unknown sales figures
g. Mega Play: unknown sales figures
Total Sonic the Hedgehog sales for the original hardware: unknown sales figures
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) sales in other consoles:
1.Sonic Jam (Sega Saturn, 1997): unknown sales figures
2.Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis (Game Boy Advance, 2006): unknown sales figures
3.Wii Virtual Console (2006): unknown sales figures
4.iOS (2007) : unknown sales figures
5.X-Box Live Arcade (2007): 482,960 units. Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#cite_ref-49
6.Paid mobile downloads in 2008: over 8 million.  Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#cite_note-49
7.Paid Android downloads between 2013 and 2016: over 500,000.  Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#cite_note-49
8. 3D Classics (Nintendo 3DS, 2013) : unknown
9.Sonic Mega Collection (Game Cube, 2002): unknown
10. Sonic Mega Collection (PlayStation 2, 2003): unknown
11. Sonic Mega Collection (X-Box, 2003): unknown
12. Sega Mega Drive Collection/Sega Genesis Collection (PlayStation 2, 2006): unknown
13. Sega Mega Drive Collection/Sega Genesis Collection (PlayStation Portable, 2006): unknown
14. Sonic Mega Collection Plus (PC-Windows, 2007): unknown
15. Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection/Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3,2009): unknown
16. Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection/Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (X-Box 360,2009)
17. Sonic Classic Collection (Nintendo DS, 2010): unknown
18. Sega Ages vol. 1 (Windows, MacOs and Linux, 2010): unknown
19. Sega Forever (iOS and Android, 2017) : unknown
20. Sega Mega Drive Classics /Sega Genesis Classics (PlayStation 4, 2018): unknown
21. Sega Mega Drive Classics /Sega Genesis Classics (X-Box One, 2018): unknown
22. Sega Ages (PlatStation 4, 2018): unknown
23. Sega Ages (XBox One, 2018): unknown
24. Sega Ages (Nintendo Switch, 2018): unknown
25. Sega Mega Drive Classics /Sega Genesis Classics (Nintendo Switch, 2018): unknown
26. Sega Mega Drive Classics /Sega Genesis Classics (Steam, 2019): unknown
Total original Sonic the Hedgehog sales (in other consoles): unknown sales figures


The Best-Selling Franchises:
Sonic The Hedgehog originated the best selling video game franchising of all time and remains the best-selling game in this franchise to date:
https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-best-selling-video-game-franchise.html

The Mega Drive / Sega Genesis has also originated other hugely successful franchises such as Puyo Puyo, FIFA, Madden, NHL, Shining, Stalker, Oasis, Streets of Rage, Road Rash, Strike, World Series Baseball, NBA Live, NBA Action, Illusion (Castle...), Earthworm Jim, Rocket Knight, Toe Jam & Earl, Ecco the Dolphin, Assault Suits, Vectorman, Columns, cool Spot, Eternal Champions, Heroes (Gunstar, Guardian...), Lunar (CD), Dynamite Headdy and many others. Unfortunately, the sales figures of these franchises have never been revealed by Sega.
FIFA, Madden and Puyo Puyo are still among the best selling video game franchises of all time to this day.
https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-best-selling-video-game-franchise.html

In addition to originating major franchises, Mega Drive also received original games from other major franchises originating in arcades such as Shinobi  / Shadow Dancer, OutRun, Golden Axe, Space Harrier, Super Monaco GP, Fantasy Zone, Monster World, Rolling Thunder, Splaterhouse, Contra, Mercs, Toki, Moonwalker, E-Swat, TMNT, Tiny Toons, Penguin Land, Teddy Boy among many others and also in franchises originating in other platforms such as Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd, Aleste, Hokuto-No-Ken, Thunder Force, Blaster Master and Castlevania.



More information on Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Hardware Sales Figures at:
https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/console-wars-real-sega-genesis-mega.html