Xbox Game Pass Records Growth After Indiana Jones, Call of Duty, but Hardware Sales Drop

Microsoft's Q2 earnings call revealed that Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny (note: the game's actual title has been corrected) has attracted 4 million players. This success story stands out in an otherwise unremarkable gaming division report. MachineGames' title has received widespread critical praise, multiple awards, and now boasts a substantial player base. While precise sales figures remain elusive due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, 4 million players represent a significant achievement, especially given the initial uncertainty surrounding a modern, AAA Indiana Jones game.

Our own review lauded the game as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," further highlighting its Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game nominations. [Link to full review here]

Elsewhere in the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft announced a 30% increase in Game Pass PC subscribers last quarter, establishing a new quarterly revenue record. Cloud gaming also saw impressive growth, logging 140 million hours of streamed gameplay. These factors contributed to a 2% increase in Xbox content and services revenue.

However, challenges remain. Despite exceeding expectations, overall gaming revenue decreased by 7%, and Xbox hardware revenue dropped by 29%.

In summary, Microsoft needs to strengthen its console and hardware performance. Nevertheless, its ongoing investment in Game Pass appears to be yielding positive results, particularly the strong PC Game Pass growth fueled by recent major releases like Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Microsoft Flight Simulator, all available on Game Pass day one for Ultimate subscribers.