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 positive development stands out in an otherwise unremarkable gaming division report. The game, developed by MachineGames, has received widespread critical acclaim, numerous awards, and now boasts a substantial player base. While precise sales figures are unavailable due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, 4 million players is a significant achievement, especially considering the lack of clear expectations for a modern AAA Indiana Jones title.
We ourselves lauded the game, describing it as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," and nominated it for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. [Link to full review]
Other Xbox news includes a 30% growth in Game Pass PC subscriptions last quarter, setting a new quarterly 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. While Game Pass exceeded expectations, overall gaming revenue decreased by 7%, and Xbox hardware revenue dropped by 29%.
In summary, Microsoft needs to improve its console and hardware performance. Nevertheless, its ongoing investment in Game Pass seems to be yielding positive results, particularly the strong PC Game Pass growth fueled by recent 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.
