Microsoft has recently unveiled its annual financial report, a document that, despite outlining recent company-wide layoffs, shone a spotlight on the exceptional performance of Xbox Game Pass. The subscription service impressively neared the $5 billion mark in annual revenue for the first time. While this represents a significant milestone, the report refrained from disclosing specific details such as exact subscriber numbers or the precise revenue figure achieved.
It`s worth noting that Microsoft previously implemented price increases for Game Pass and introduced the Xbox Game Pass Standard tier. This standard option, unlike the premium Ultimate tier, does not provide subscribers with day-one access to major new game releases, a perk reserved for Ultimate members.
Dominance in Gaming Publishing
The report also highlighted Microsoft`s strong position as the leading publisher on both Xbox and PlayStation in the US during the second quarter of 2025. This remarkable achievement was primarily attributed to the successful cross-platform launches of popular titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Oblivion Remastered. Furthermore, several other Microsoft-owned games, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Minecraft, were featured prominently as best-sellers on PlayStation`s Q2 charts.
Key Game Highlights and Future Outlook
Specifically, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was noted for attracting an impressive 50 million players to date. The enduring success of Minecraft was further bolstered by the impact of its recent movie adaptation, which led to a record surge in user engagement and revenue for the already immensely popular game. While the financial report largely steered clear of discussing the recent widespread layoffs or the cancellation of certain gaming projects, such as Rare`s Everwild, it did confirm that Microsoft currently has nearly 40 new games under development, signaling a robust future pipeline for its gaming division.