Lack of Big Releases , Contributes to Declining , Sales for Xbox.<br />On January 25, <br />Microsoft posted its Q2 earnings, <br />which showed a year-over-year decline.<br />Following years of rising revenue, <br />Microsoft saw sales of its Xbox <br />Series X and S slow down a bit in Q2. .<br />IGN reports that while a dip is to be expected, <br />a major contributing factor has been <br />a lack of major first-party releases.<br />IGN reports that while a dip is to be expected, <br />a major contributing factor has been <br />a lack of major first-party releases.<br />Year-over-year, game sales and <br />hardware revenue were down 13%.<br />Meanwhile, revenue from Xbox <br />content and services <br />was down 12% in Q2. .<br />According to Microsoft, the dip is due to decreased <br />spending on first-party content, lower monetization <br />and a strong prior year by comparison.<br />According to Microsoft, the dip is due to decreased <br />spending on first-party content, lower monetization <br />and a strong prior year by comparison.<br />IGN reports that 2021 was a hard year for Microsoft <br />to compete with, considering the major release of <br />'Halo Infinite' and surging demand for the Series X and S. .<br />IGN reports that 2021 was a hard year for Microsoft <br />to compete with, considering the major release of <br />'Halo Infinite' and surging demand for the Series X and S. .<br />Last week, Microsoft announced that it had laid off <br />10,000 employees, including a number of people <br />from The Coalition, 343 Industries and Bethesda.<br />Last week, Microsoft announced that it had laid off <br />10,000 employees, including a number of people <br />from The Coalition, 343 Industries and Bethesda.<br />According to Microsoft, the layoffs are <br />cost-cutting measures in the face of an ongoing <br />recession and slowing consumer spending.<br />IGN reports that it remains to be seen how <br />the job cuts may impact future first-party <br />game production within Xbox.
