Starfield Launches to Huge Success with Over 11 Million Players
The highly anticipated game Starfield, developed by Bethesda, has achieved unprecedented success since its release last month. With its launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC, Starfield quickly became the biggest Bethesda game launch ever and claimed the top spot as the best-selling game in the U.S. for the month. Now, Microsoft’s Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter 1 financial results reveal that more than 11 million players have already experienced the immersive world of Starfield.
Impressive Impact on Xbox Content and Services
The outstanding launch of Starfield resulted in a remarkable 13% increase in overall Xbox content and services. Despite the financial success on the services side, Xbox hardware sales experienced a 7% decrease. Microsoft executive vice president and chief financial officer, Amy Hood, confirmed these figures during the financial results call.
Promising Growth for Xbox Game Pass
During the same call, Hood also shared that Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s subscription service for gaming, enjoyed better-than-expected subscriber growth. However, no specific updated subscriber numbers were disclosed. The decline in Xbox hardware contributed to an overall 22% decrease in Microsoft hardware sales for the quarter.
Starfield’s Impact on PC Gaming
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that nearly half of all Starfield players chose to experience the game on PC. Furthermore, on launch day, Starfield set a new record for the most Game Pass subscriptions added in a single day, highlighting the game’s popularity across both the Xbox and PC platforms.
Looking Ahead with Activision Blizzard Acquisition
Although Microsoft recently acquired Activision Blizzard, little information was shared during the financial results call. Satya Nadella expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating that it adds significant depth to their content portfolio. With franchises like Candy Crush, Diablo, Halo, Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and Gears of War, Microsoft aims to strengthen its first-party holiday lineup, including highly anticipated titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Forza Motorsport.
Exciting Reads to Enhance Your Starfield Experience
If you’re interested in knowing more about Starfield and its impact, check out the Game Informer’s Starfield review. Additionally, discover why Starfield is surprisingly great to play using Remote Play. Lastly, explore a fascinating feature that delves into how Starfield offers a sci-fi theme park experience rather than a traditional open-world adventure.
Have you played Starfield? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!