Starfield has been a big success for Bethesda and Microsoft. Not only was it the best-selling game in the US for September, but it’s also been a significant boon for Game Pass. According to Microsoft, the day of Starfield’s launch set a record for the highest number of new Game Pass subscribers.
Starfield’s launch set a record for new Game Pass subscribers
Microsoft recently held its 2024 first-quarter earnings call. The hour-long conference covered a lot of ground, including the recent completion of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buyout. However, it also touched on the success of Bethesda sci-fi RPG. This includes its launch day setting a red for Game Pass subscribers and Starfield crossing a massive sales milestone.
“We released Starfield this quarter to broad acclaim,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. More than 11 million people have played the game to date. Nearly half of hours played have been on PC, and on launch day, we set a record for the most Game Pass subscriptions added on a single day ever.”
The executive also reported that Game Pass saw more hours played than ever before. However, he did not specify precisely how many. He added that Minecraft surpassed 300 million units. Nadella also mentioned Microsoft’s strong holiday lineup featuring Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Forza Motorsport.
Yesterday also saw Microsoft publish its 2024 Q1 earnings report. The company overall saw a 27% increase in net income. Gaming revenue grew by 9%, with Xbox content and services rising by 13%. However, Xbox consoles also experienced a dip in revenue, falling by 8%. Still, the beginning of 2024’s fiscal year has been good overall for Microsoft and its gaming division.
