Xbox CEO Asha Sharma claims Call of Duty is bigger than the MCU as Microsoft ramps up film and TV adaptations. See the data, projects, and industry impact.
In a major Entertainment Weekly feature published on June 22, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Xbox, CEO Asha Sharma made a statement that immediately ignited debate across the entertainment industry: “Call of Duty is bigger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” It is the kind of claim that sounds impossible until you start examining the numbers behind both franchises. The interview also revealed new details about Xbox’s rapidly expanding film and television strategy, including updates on Fallout, Minecraft, Gears of War, Wolfenstein, and the newly confirmed Sea of Thieves live action film.
Table of Contents
- Who Is Asha Sharma
- What Did Asha Sharma Say About Call of Duty
- How Do Call of Duty and the MCU Compare Financially
- What Xbox Adaptations Are in Development
- Why Xbox Is Investing Heavily in Hollywood
- What Is the Future of Halo Adaptations
Who Is Asha Sharma
Asha Sharma became CEO of Xbox on February 23, 2026, succeeding Phil Spencer after his retirement. Sharma previously led Microsoft’s CoreAI division, meaning she entered the gaming world without a traditional industry background. Her appointment drew intense scrutiny, but her first major interview signals a bold, entertainment driven vision for Xbox’s future.
What Did Asha Sharma Say About Call of Duty
During the discussion about Xbox’s growing slate of film and TV adaptations, Sharma stated:
“Call of Duty is bigger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
She did not specify whether she meant revenue, cultural reach, or audience size, leaving the claim intentionally broad. The comment was meant to highlight the scale of Xbox’s IP portfolio and the appetite Hollywood now has for adapting major gaming franchises.
How Do Call of Duty and the MCU Compare Financially
The comparison depends heavily on which metrics you choose.
MCU Financial Overview
- Over $31.5 billion in global box office revenue
- Additional billions from merchandising, licensing, streaming, and theme parks
Call of Duty Financial Overview
- Over $30 billion in cumulative revenue as of 2022
- More recent estimates place the franchise above $35 billion, including:
- Game sales
- Microtransactions
- Battle passes
- Live service cosmetics
The challenge is that MCU box office revenue is only one part of Marvel’s ecosystem, while Call of Duty revenue is almost entirely direct consumer spending. Sharma’s statement is provocative, but not entirely unsupported when comparing raw revenue.
What Xbox Adaptations Are in Development
Xbox currently has more than a dozen film and TV projects in development. Confirmed titles include:
- Sea of Thieves live action film, produced by Destin Daniel Cretton
- A Minecraft Movie sequel at Warner Bros.
- Gears of War animated series on Netflix
- Minecraft animated series on Netflix
- Gears of War live action film on Netflix, directed by David Leitch, screenplay by Jon Spaihts
- Wolfenstein live action series on Amazon
- Fallout Season 3 on Prime Video
- Fallout Shelter reality show, currently filming
Matt Booty, Xbox’s Chief Content Officer, expressed strong enthusiasm for the Gears of War projects, while Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout Season 3 will explore territories never seen in the games.
Why Xbox Is Investing Heavily in Hollywood
Sharma explained Xbox’s strategy:
“Big games are culture, and culture is entertainment.”
She pointed to recent successes:
- Fallout is the second most watched series in Prime Video history
- Minecraft was a top five film in 2025
- Call of Duty generates more revenue than many major film franchises
Hollywood studios are increasingly eager to collaborate with Xbox, and Sharma sees multimedia expansion as a core pillar of the brand’s future.
What Is the Future of Halo Adaptations
Matt Booty confirmed that Halo remains one of Xbox’s most important franchises:
“Halo is iconic for Xbox, and we are certainly going to continue investing in it.”
The Paramount+ Halo series ended in 2024 after two seasons with mixed reception. Any future adaptation would be treated as a fresh start, likely with a new creative direction.