Xbox Game Pass Surges with Indiana Jones, Call of Duty; Hardware Sales Decline

During today's Q2 investors call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Indiana Jones and The Great Circle has attracted an impressive 4 million players. This revelation comes as a highlight in an otherwise uneventful earnings report for the gaming division, showcasing the success of MachineGames' latest release. The game has not only received critical acclaim and numerous awards but also captivated millions of players. Despite the challenge of gauging exact sales due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, reaching 4 million players is a significant achievement, especially for a modern, AAA Indiana Jones title that many approached with cautious optimism.

Our own review praised Indiana Jones and The Great Circle as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," and it has been nominated for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. You can dive deeper into our thoughts by reading the full review here.

However, there are areas where Microsoft still needs to focus. Despite the robust performance of Game Pass, overall gaming revenue saw a 7% decline, and Xbox hardware revenue dropped by 29%.

What do these figures indicate? Microsoft continues to face challenges in the console and hardware markets, but its strategic emphasis on Game Pass is clearly yielding positive results. The growth of Game Pass on PC is particularly noteworthy, fueled by a strong lineup of releases last quarter, including Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Microsoft Flight Simulator, all available on Game Pass from day one for Ultimate subscribers.