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Asha Sharma

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Fed taps Xbox chief Asha Sharma to co-lead AI-economy task force
business1 day ago

Fed taps Xbox chief Asha Sharma to co-lead AI-economy task force

The U.S. Federal Reserve has named Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to co-lead its Productivity and Jobs task force to study the economic impact of AI and other general-purpose technologies, alongside Marc Andreessen and Stanford economist Charles I. Jones. The appointment comes as Microsoft/Xbox reveals 3,200 layoffs through 2027, part of a broader strategic shift following Sharma’s rise to Xbox CEO earlier this year after joining Microsoft in 2024 as president of CoreAI.

Microsoft doubles down on Xbox exclusives to grow its ecosystem
gaming3 days ago

Microsoft doubles down on Xbox exclusives to grow its ecosystem

A Bloomberg-sourced report says Microsoft, led by CEO Asha Sharma, plans to expand exclusive titles for Xbox, with Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution confirmed as console exclusives. The strategy aims to grow the Xbox ecosystem by prioritizing tentpole single‑player games on Xbox while keeping multiplayer experiences on other platforms, raising questions about potential future exclusivity for franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. The move comes as Microsoft conducts significant layoffs in the Xbox division and signals a shift toward closer Xbox/Minecraft integrations and stronger co-marketing with its hardware.

Game Pass falls far short of 2026 goal, at about 30 million subscribers
technology3 days ago

Game Pass falls far short of 2026 goal, at about 30 million subscribers

WSJ reports Xbox Game Pass has about 30 million subscribers, well below the 77 million goal Microsoft set for 2026, a target surfaced during the Activision Blizzard deal proceedings. The last official count was 34 million (Sept 2024). CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the broader Xbox restructuring and price changes that affected growth, saying the company must reset and outwork the path to durable growth.

Game Pass at 30 Million, Far Below Microsoft's 2026 Target
business4 days ago

Game Pass at 30 Million, Far Below Microsoft's 2026 Target

Game Pass has about 30 million subscribers, roughly 4 million fewer than in 2024, and well short of Microsoft’s target of about 77 million by July 2026 (with a leaked plan for 100 million by 2030). Past price hikes and removing day-one Call of Duty titles are tied to subscriber losses, and internal memos from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma flag ongoing growth concerns as Microsoft adjusts pricing and strategy.

Xbox Goes on a Reset: Cuts, Studio Moves, and a Game Pass Reassessment
business4 days ago

Xbox Goes on a Reset: Cuts, Studio Moves, and a Game Pass Reassessment

Microsoft’s Xbox unit is undergoing a strategic reset led by CEO Asha Sharma, including mass layoffs and selling off studios, after bets like Xbox Game Pass did not pay off; Game Pass is reportedly around 30 million subscribers (down from 34 million in 2024), with a price hike and changes such as not including new Call of Duty games at launch, prompting a shift to focus on higher-priority projects and selective exclusives; no announced first-party Xbox games have been canceled as part of the reset.

Xbox's billion-user dream meets reality amid layoffs and restructuring
technology4 days ago

Xbox's billion-user dream meets reality amid layoffs and restructuring

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma outlined a bold goal for Xbox to entertain more than a billion people each day, counting players and Game Pass subscribers, as four studios split off and about 3,600 jobs are cut. While Mojang and King remain strong and titles like Candy Crush, Fortnite, and Roblox illustrate large audiences, their combined peaks still fall well short of a billion, making the aim seem aspirational amid the layoffs and earlier missteps. King and upcoming titles could help close the gap, but the plan faces skepticism from the industry and staff alike.

Xbox Pauses Third-Party Game Pass Deals as Restructuring Shifts Strategy
technology11 days ago

Xbox Pauses Third-Party Game Pass Deals as Restructuring Shifts Strategy

Xbox reportedly paused signing any new third-party Game Pass deals while undergoing a leadership reset under new CEO Asha Sharma. Word from industry sources suggests deals in advanced talks were scrapped as the company assesses its approach; Game Pass pricing has already been adjusted and the service remains central, but profitability pressures from big acquisitions and a recent Series S/X price hike are prompting a tighter strategy rather than an end to Game Pass.

Microsoft weighs spinning off Xbox to push sustainable, faster game development
business25 days ago

Microsoft weighs spinning off Xbox to push sustainable, faster game development

Microsoft is reportedly considering spinning off Xbox or restructuring the games division as a separate entity. New Xbox chief Asha Sharma is pushing higher investment to accelerate development of Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls, while CEO Satya Nadella urges turning the games arm into a sustainable, monetized business amid revenue declines and planned layoffs, with a future sale still a possibility.

Microsoft weighs spin-out of Xbox to speed up first-party games
business27 days ago

Microsoft weighs spin-out of Xbox to speed up first-party games

Microsoft is reportedly considering restructuring Xbox as a standalone, wholly-owned subsidiary or joint venture to accelerate development of first-party games such as Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. New CEO Asha Sharma is said to push higher investment in top-tier titles, though officials say no imminent plans exist; budget and staff cuts are also being discussed as part of a broader Xbox reset.

Memory Prices Surge 700% Put Xbox Margins in the Red, Rumor Claims
business27 days ago

Memory Prices Surge 700% Put Xbox Margins in the Red, Rumor Claims

A Windows Central deep-dive, citing Xbox leadership notes, claims the Xbox division is losing hundreds of dollars per Series X|S due to fixed memory costs driving wholesale prices up about 700% since costed-out. With margins reported around 3% after costs, the piece describes a broader strategic reset including layoffs and potential studio closures, and notes future hardware may rely on third-party manufacturing partners for projects like the Project Helix.