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 critical praise, 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 represent a significant achievement, especially given the uncertainty surrounding a modern AAA Indiana Jones title.

We highly praised the game in our review, describing it as an "irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt," and nominating it for Game of the Year and Best Xbox Game. [Link to full review]

Further Xbox news includes a 30% increase in Game Pass PC subscribers last quarter, setting a new revenue record. Cloud gaming saw 140 million hours streamed. 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, Microsoft needs to improve its console and hardware performance. Nevertheless, its continued investment in Game Pass is proving fruitful, particularly the strong PC Game Pass growth fueled by recent major 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.