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, not the movie) has attracted 4 million players. This success shines amidst a relatively unremarkable performance from Microsoft's gaming division. The title, developed by MachineGames, has received widespread critical praise and numerous awards, making the player count even more impressive, especially given its availability on Xbox Game Pass, which makes precise sales figures difficult to determine.

Our own review lauded the game as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," further highlighting its nomination for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. [Read our full review here](link to review - This needs to be added if a link is available).

Other positive Xbox news includes a 30% growth in Game Pass PC subscriptions last quarter, setting a new revenue record. Cloud gaming also saw a significant increase, logging 140 million hours of streamed gameplay. These factors contributed to a 2% growth in Xbox content and services revenue.

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

In summary, while Microsoft faces ongoing challenges in console and hardware sales, its investment in Game Pass continues to yield positive results. The strong PC Game Pass growth is likely fueled by recent high-profile 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.