Xbox is putting more attention on its strongest franchises after CEO Asha Sharma revealed that three properties each generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Sharma did not name the franchises, so the identities remain unconfirmed.
The disclosure came as Microsoft prepared for broader changes across its gaming business. The company had already announced plans to cut 1,600 jobs, while Sharma indicated that further reductions could follow over the next year as Xbox narrows its development priorities and places more weight on its most profitable areas.
Xbox Wants Its Biggest Franchises to Reach Further
Sharma shared the revenue figure in an internal memo obtained by The Verge. The memo outlined four priorities for the year ahead, with player and revenue growth at the center of the plan.
It also described the size of Xbox’s reach, saying the platform brings together more than 100 million people each day, over 500 million people each month, and nearly one billion people across a year.
Consoles still account for most of Xbox’s revenue, according to the report, but the company is looking beyond hardware. Microsoft wants its strongest properties to reach film, television, consumer products, sponsorships, live events, and new global partnerships, including partnerships in China.
That approach is already affecting the company’s internal priorities. Bethesda is placing more attention on major properties such as Fallout, while Microsoft continues to manage its wider portfolio following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Which Three Franchises Could It Be?
Xbox has not confirmed the three franchises behind the $1 billion figure. Still, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush stand out as possible candidates based on their enormous reach across consoles, PC, and mobile devices.
Call of Duty remains one of gaming’s largest annual brands. Minecraft has generated enough money to support other projects within Microsoft’s gaming portfolio, while Candy Crush continues to perform strongly in mobile gaming through Activision Blizzard.
Those names are only speculation, however. Sharma’s comments confirm the size of three Xbox-owned or Xbox-controlled franchises without identifying them. The broader message is clear: Microsoft sees its most successful properties as the main route to stronger business results, both inside games and in other forms of entertainment.
Which three Xbox franchises do you think pass the $1 billion annual revenue mark? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
