Major changes are coming to Xbox leadership: Phil Spencer has announced his departure as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. According to IGN, his last day in the role is Monday, February 23.
Asha Sharma, who joined Microsoft in 2024 as President of CoreAI, will be the new head of Microsoft Gaming. At the company, she was responsible for the portfolio of AI products, including models, applications, agent systems, developer tools, and responsible AI usage.
Xbox President Sarah Bond, who many considered a likely successor to Spencer, is reportedly leaving the company. At the same time, head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty will be promoted to Chief Content Officer and will work in conjunction with Sharma.
In a letter to employees, Spencer said that he had discussed plans to end his career at the company and move on to a new stage of life with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella last fall. According to him, the transition was prepared in advance to ensure stability and strengthen the foundation built during his years of leadership.
Asha Sharma also addressed employees, outlining key areas for Xbox development.
- Great games. According to Sharma, it all starts with high-quality projects: memorable characters, strong stories, innovative gameplay, and creative risk. The company will continue to invest in iconic franchises and support bold new ideas. She directly linked Matt Booty's promotion to this course.
- «Xbox Return». Sharma announced her intention to reaffirm her commitment to the brand's core fans, with a focus on consoles as the foundation of the ecosystem. At the same time, the multiplatform release policy will continue: Xbox will continue to develop on PC, mobile devices, and in the cloud, making the ecosystem seamless and accessible on different devices.
- The future of games is without «soulless AI content». Despite her experience in CoreAI, Sharma emphasized that Xbox will not chase short-term efficiency and fill the market with «soulless AI content». According to her, games remain an art created by people, and technology should enhance creators, not replace them.
