Black Ops 6 is the fastest selling Call Of Duty ever

The gaming landscape is full of surprises, as illustrated by Microsoft’s latest financial report. While Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has quickly risen to become the fastest-selling entry in the franchise’s history, the Xbox Series X/S consoles have seen a dramatic decline, with sales down by 29% over the last quarter. This mix of success and struggle shows Microsoft in an unusual position, where its recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard becomes even more crucial to its gaming division’s future.

In the quarter ending this October, the Xbox console sales figures have fallen to an estimated 1.3 million units shipped. This drop is a stark contrast to the growth Xbox enjoyed through revenues tied to Activision Blizzard titles. The latter contributed to an impressive 43% revenue boost for Xbox. Without the support of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft would have seen a flat 0% growth, a challenging statistic for any division under pressure to prove its worth within a larger conglomerate like Microsoft. This reliance on Activision titles suggests a shift in the importance of exclusive, first-party games at Xbox, as major releases from within are limited in number. However, next quarter should see additional first-party game releases, potentially alleviating some of the pressure on Xbox execs.

The blockbuster success of Black Ops 6 was notably absent from Microsoft’s Q3 financials but still marks an unprecedented achievement in Call of Duty’s extensive timeline. Launch numbers for Black Ops 6 outperformed the previous title by 60% and set a new Game Pass record for “most subscriber adds on launch day.” Modern Warfare 3, which had received lukewarm reactions, still managed to perform well in 2023, but Black Ops 6 appears to have regained the favor of long-time fans and new players alike. The success of this game reinforces Microsoft’s heavy bet on Activision Blizzard as a growth driver.

Meanwhile, the Xbox Series X/S faces stiff competition. Analysts estimate total sales of only 30 million units worldwide, lagging far behind Sony’s PlayStation 5. Microsoft’s future in hardware, however, remains uncertain, with plans to continue producing next-generation consoles. Their multiformat publishing approach, hinting at cross-platform strategy for future releases, could shift the focus away from hardware altogether, offering players broader accessibility regardless of platform preference.

In conclusion, Black Ops 6 has delivered a win for Microsoft by breathing new life into its gaming revenue, yet it also spotlights the challenges the Xbox division faces. The contrast between the successes in game software and the slumps in hardware presents a mixed outlook, making Microsoft’s next steps crucial in maintaining momentum in both domains.