Microsoft reports record gaming sales - even without Activision Blizzard
Microsoft has reported record gaming sales in the first quarter of 2024, earning a fortune even before the Activision Blizzard deal went through.
25th Oct 2023 11:50
Sledgehammer Games | Microsoft | Bethesda
Microsoft reports record gaming sales - even without Activision Blizzard
Microsoft has reported record gaming sales in the first quarter of 2024, earning a fortune even before the Activision Blizzard deal went through.
25th Oct 2023 11:50
Sledgehammer Games | Microsoft | Bethesda
While Kermit the Frog told us it ain't easy being green, tell that to Phil Spencer and co., who are currently sitting pretty on a pile of dough. As the console wars only get uglier, Microsoft continues its fight with record-breaking Q1 2024 sales.
As Nintendo does its own thing and enjoys a spectacular run, including Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it's still Blue vs Green as Sony and Microsoft go head-to-head. Both sides have been through a rough patch, with Sony's Jim Ryan stepping down and Microsoft struggling to get the Activision Blizzard deal over the line.
Microsoft reports record-breaking Q1 sales
The ink is still wet on the Activision Blizzard deal, and while we still don't know what the repercussions will be for the gaming industry, it's an exciting time for all involved. If finalising the long-gestated deal and subduing those complaints that Xbox is about to become a gaming monopoly weren't enough, how about a record sales period?
Recent financials confirm that Microsoft has earned a jaw-dropping $3.9 billion from gaming in its first quarter of 2024. It's the highest-ever Q1 for the company and a record for a non-holiday quarter. This represents a 9% year-on-year increase, with Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft's first-party games being the main factors.
Q1 runs from July to September, and in case you've been marooned in space, you might remember Microsoft had a pretty major launch during this period. After years of waiting, Bethesda's Starfield took flight and reportedly reached 10 million players in its first month.
The Activision Blizzard deal is big news for Microsoft
There are plenty of wins to be had, with Xbox content and services driving growth up by 13% year-on-year with the likes of Game Pass. This will likely boom with the eventual arrival of ABK franchises like Call of Duty on the subscription service, but be warned, that isn't happening just yet.
It's also interesting to note that hardware revenue dipped by 7%. While Microsoft might be dominating Sony in some departments, the sheer selling power of the PlayStation 5 and upcoming PS5 Slim continues to beat Microsoft.
Microsoft's annual gaming division revenue currently sits at $15.8 billion, compared to $16.3 billion at the same time last year. Then again, we need to bear in mind that these figures don't consider the ABK deal. Microsoft now holds the keys to the CoDverse, Diablo, Overwatch, and more.
With the launch of Modern Warfare 3 on November 10, Microsoft is undoubtedly going to be laughing all the way to the bank in 2023. The deal might've cost an eye-watering $69 billion as the most expensive gaming deal of all time, but if these trends continue, it'll be worth every penny.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
