Microsoft released its Q1 fiscal year 2022 results for the quarter ending September 30th 2021 and revealed a 16 percent increase in total gaming revenue compared to the same period last year. Highlights include a 166 percent increase in Xbox hardware revenue year-over-year, primarily due to the Xbox Series X/S. Xbox content and services revenue was up by 2 percent “on a strong prior year comparable, with growth in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions and first-party titles partially offset by declines from third-party titles.”
CEO Satya Nadella also stated in an earnings call that the gaming division had seen “record first quarter monetisation and engagement.” For the quarter ending December 31st 2021, CFO Amy Hood said that the company expects “revenue growth in the high single digits.” The launch of several triple-A titles in the quarter should also lead to “revenue growth in the mid-teens with strong engagement on the Xbox platform.”
With Halo Infinite (which recently received a new campaign showcase) and Forza Horizon 5 out this quarter along with high-profile releases like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Battlefield 2042, Microsoft could very well meet those expectations. Hood did note that console sales would “continue to be impacted by supply chain uncertainty.” Stay tuned for more details on upcoming releases in the meantime.