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 less-than-stellar gaming division report. MachineGames' title has earned critical praise, awards, and now a significant player base. While precise sales figures remain elusive due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, 4 million players represent a notable achievement, especially given the uncertainty surrounding a modern AAA Indiana Jones game.

We lauded the game in our review, 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% 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% growth in Xbox content and services revenue.

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

In summary, Microsoft needs to improve its console and hardware performance. Nevertheless, its investment in Game Pass seems to be yielding positive results, particularly the strong PC subscription growth. This is likely fueled by last quarter's major game releases, including 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.