Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently shared that 20 Xbox first-party franchises have surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue. The announcement came in Microsoft’s 2024 annual report, following the company’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October 2023. Nadella highlighted popular in-house franchises like Halo and Gears of War, alongside major acquired series such as Candy Crush, World of Warcraft, and The Elder Scrolls.
He further explained that Activision Blizzard’s portfolio has helped bring “hundreds of millions” of new players into the Xbox ecosystem. Notably, titles like Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 were added to Xbox Game Pass and Steam after their initial launches, while the latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, became available on Game Pass on release day.
In an earlier earnings call for the first quarter of 2023-2024, Nadella reported 13 Xbox franchises earning over $1 billion, indicating that several series experienced strong revenue growth throughout the year. Some, like Fallout, gained momentum thanks to events like anniversaries, TV adaptations, or game re-releases.
While Nadella did not specify the top-earning Xbox franchise, industry data suggests that Call of Duty remains a leader, having reached $30 billion in lifetime revenue by 2022. This financial powerhouse was likely a key factor in Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Meanwhile, Xbox is also revitalizing its non-Activision properties. Formerly known as 343 Industries, the Halo team announced plans to develop future Halo titles using Unreal Engine 5. The Coalition is working on Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to Gears of War: Judgment and Gears Tactics. Additionally, Playground Games is rebooting the beloved Fable series, while The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics are collaborating on a revival of Perfect Dark, a property Microsoft acquired through Rare back in 2002.
Source: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/busin...illion-in-lifetime-revenue-says-microsoft-ceo
He further explained that Activision Blizzard’s portfolio has helped bring “hundreds of millions” of new players into the Xbox ecosystem. Notably, titles like Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 were added to Xbox Game Pass and Steam after their initial launches, while the latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, became available on Game Pass on release day.
In an earlier earnings call for the first quarter of 2023-2024, Nadella reported 13 Xbox franchises earning over $1 billion, indicating that several series experienced strong revenue growth throughout the year. Some, like Fallout, gained momentum thanks to events like anniversaries, TV adaptations, or game re-releases.
While Nadella did not specify the top-earning Xbox franchise, industry data suggests that Call of Duty remains a leader, having reached $30 billion in lifetime revenue by 2022. This financial powerhouse was likely a key factor in Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Meanwhile, Xbox is also revitalizing its non-Activision properties. Formerly known as 343 Industries, the Halo team announced plans to develop future Halo titles using Unreal Engine 5. The Coalition is working on Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to Gears of War: Judgment and Gears Tactics. Additionally, Playground Games is rebooting the beloved Fable series, while The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics are collaborating on a revival of Perfect Dark, a property Microsoft acquired through Rare back in 2002.
Source: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/busin...illion-in-lifetime-revenue-says-microsoft-ceo