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 amidst a relatively unremarkable gaming division report. MachineGames' title has earned critical praise, awards, and now 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 considering 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 garnered nominations for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. [Link to full review]
Further Xbox news includes a 30% increase 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% rise in Xbox content and services revenue.
Challenges persist, however. Despite exceeding expectations, overall gaming revenue dipped 7%, and Xbox hardware revenue fell 29%.
In summary, Microsoft faces an uphill battle in the console and hardware market, but its investment in Game Pass is yielding positive results. The strong PC Game Pass growth is unsurprising, given 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.
