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 (the game's actual title, not "The Great Circle") has attracted 4 million players. This success shines brightly against a somewhat underwhelming gaming division report. MachineGames' title has earned critical praise, awards, and now a significant player base. While precise sales figures remain elusive due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, 4 million players represent a considerable achievement, especially given the uncertainty surrounding a modern, AAA Indiana Jones game.

Our own review lauded the game as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," and it's received nominations for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. [Link to full review would go here]

Further Xbox news includes a 30% surge in Game Pass PC subscriptions last quarter, setting a new revenue record. Cloud gaming saw 140 million hours streamed. These factors contributed to a 2% increase in Xbox content and services revenue.

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

In summary, Microsoft needs to strengthen its console and hardware performance. Nevertheless, its ongoing investment in Game Pass is clearly yielding positive results. The strong Game Pass PC growth is likely fueled by last quarter's major releases, including Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (assuming "Black Ops 6" refers to this title), and Microsoft Flight Simulator, all available on Game Pass day one for Ultimate subscribers.