Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has made a bold claim regarding the scale of Microsoft’s gaming intellectual property: the Call of Duty franchise is now larger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Sharma emphasized that there is more industry appetite for Xbox multimedia projects than ever before, citing strong financial performance across several recent adaptations.
The numbers behind the claim
Sharma’s statement rests on fiscal data rather than just cultural footprint. While the MCU has generated approximately $32 billion in lifetime box office revenue, Call of Duty has reportedly earned over $35 billion across its history. This revenue is driven by massive sales figures, including recent reports of 500 million lifetime copies sold for the franchise.
The CEO noted that while Xbox does not aim to become the world’s largest linear content provider, the success of titles like Fallout (the number two show on Amazon Prime Video) and the Minecraft movie (top 5 in 2025) proves that gaming IPs translate effectively to other media formats.
New adaptations confirmed
Beyond the existing slate, Xbox provided updates on several upcoming projects during the interview:
- Sea of Thieves: A live-action movie is officially in development, with Destin Daniel Cretton set to produce through Hisako Films.
- Gears of War: Netflix plans for a series adaptation were detailed, confirming the platform’s commitment to the franchise.
- Call of Duty: Paramount Pictures is moving forward with a film adaptation, which has been scheduled for release in June 2028.
What this means for you
If you are a fan of Xbox franchises, expect more content beyond video games in the coming years. Microsoft is clearly doubling down on its strategy to turn gaming hits into mainstream entertainment. While Sharma expressed interest in potentially revisiting the Halo adaptation after previous mixed reception, the immediate focus remains on expanding the library with proven properties like Sea of Thieves and Gears of War.
Other projects already in motion include a Wolfenstein series for Amazon and a reality competition show inspired by Fallout Shelter. The message from Xbox leadership is clear: gaming culture is entertainment culture, and Microsoft intends to capitalize on that overlap.
Source: Windows Central
Over to you: Which Xbox game franchise do you think deserves its own TV series or movie next?
