All articles tagged with #asha sharma
Gears of War: E-Day launched on October 6, 2026, as an Xbox and PC exclusive, marking a strategic pivot for Microsoft. The prequel, developed by The Coalition, received high praise for its horror elements and modernized mechanics. This release coincides with significant corporate restructuring and layoffs at Xbox, raising questions about the long-term viability of exclusive titles in a competitive market.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told staff that the division has begun recovering from an 'all-time low' in growth, citing strong launches for titles like Gears of War: E-Day. She confirmed that next-gen hardware, Project Helix, will be a family of devices rather than a single console, while acknowledging that the company is still 75% through its painful restructuring process.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has explicitly denied reports that Microsoft is selling the gaming division, stating in an interview with The New York Times that 'Xbox is not for sale.' In a recent internal town hall, Sharma outlined a strategy to reverse previous declines by treating the Xbox Series X|S as a 'core' product, expanding Game Pass, and leveraging Project Helix as a family of devices. While Microsoft is planning to lay off up to 3,200 employees in its 2027 fiscal year, Sharma emphasized a long-term view, noting that first-party game growth has returned after a period of 'free fall.'
Gears of War: E-Day launched on October 6, 2026, as an Xbox console exclusive, marking a strategic pivot for Microsoft after recent multi-platform releases. Developed by The Coalition, the prequel has achieved record-breaking sales and concurrent user counts on Steam despite its exclusivity status. While developers expressed pride in returning to the exclusive model, the release coincides with significant corporate restructuring at Xbox, including job cuts and a focus on flagship franchises.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has explicitly denied reports that Microsoft is planning to sell the gaming division, stating in a New York Times interview that 'Xbox is not for sale.' This clarification follows a period of intense speculation fueled by significant layoffs, studio closures, and strategic shifts under Sharma's leadership. While Microsoft executives Satya Nadella and Amy Hood previously explored spinning off the unit, they have since supported Sharma's plan to restructure Xbox into a leaner, wholly owned subsidiary. The division is undergoing a major 'reset,' including the transfer of the Halo franchise to Activision and the closure of studios like Ninja Theory, with the goal of focusing on high-margin franchises and console exclusives rather than exiting the market.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has explicitly denied reports that Microsoft is planning to sell or spin off its gaming division. In an interview with The New York Times, Sharma stated that 'Xbox is not for sale' and emphasized a long-term strategy for the business. This denial comes amid significant internal restructuring, including the transfer of major franchises like Halo to Activision and substantial layoffs. Microsoft is currently pursuing a 'sustainable business model' for the division rather than divesting it, despite earlier speculation from The Information that leadership had considered a spinoff.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has explicitly denied reports that Microsoft is planning to sell or spin off its gaming division. In an interview with The New York Times, Sharma stated that 'Xbox is not for sale' and emphasized a long-term view for the business. This denial follows months of speculation after The Information reported that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood had considered divesting the unit. Instead, Microsoft is pursuing a major internal restructuring, including significant layoffs and the consolidation of studios under Activision, to create a more sustainable operating model.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has explicitly stated that the gaming division is not for sale, pushing back against speculation that Microsoft is preparing to divest the unit. This clarification follows a massive restructuring effort that includes laying off up to 3,200 employees and moving major franchises like Halo under Activision. While analysts remain skeptical due to the scale of the changes, Microsoft leadership insists the current moves are long-term investments rather than a prelude to a spin-off.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has endorsed the ongoing restructuring of the Xbox division, describing recent layoffs as necessary to build a 'sustainable business model.' Following the elimination of 268 additional roles, the company is consolidating studios under Activision, Bethesda, and King, while divesting teams like Ninja Theory and Arkane.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Xbox's latest layoffs as 'great to see' during a podcast interview, a comment that drew sharp criticism from fans and employees. The remarks followed the announcement of 268 additional job cuts, bringing the total number of eliminated roles this year to over 1,800. While leadership frames the reductions as a necessary step toward financial sustainability, the public response highlights a significant disconnect between executive strategy and workforce morale.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Xbox's recent layoffs as 'great to see' during an interview, following the announcement of 268 additional job cuts. This latest round is part of a broader restructuring effort led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, which has already eliminated 1,600 jobs earlier in the year. The company is consolidating studios, including merging Playground and Turn 10, and divesting several teams. While management cites the need for a sustainable business model, the cuts have sparked debate regarding leadership empathy and the long-term impact on game development.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma spends a few hours each month replying to customer-support tickets to better understand player issues and help rebuild goodwill, a hands-on move aligned with Xbox’s branding efforts and the company’s ongoing changes following the July 2026 layoffs.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is launching a candid, 'clarity is kindness' plan to fix Xbox, confronting declining revenue, weak Game Pass growth, and a strategic reset aimed at returning the brand to profitability next fiscal year.
Tim Schafer says Double Fine’s split from Xbox is a 'creative awakening' as the studio becomes independent again after layoffs, fueling a $400,000 Kickstarter for its next game jam; Xbox’s new CEO Asha Sharma shifted the partnership mission away from Game Pass profitability, making the relationship untenable, but Schafer vows Double Fine will survive and thrive, continuing to push its own projects even as it takes on risk, with Schafer speaking from PAX West.
Xbox chief Asha Sharma says the industry must innovate on affordability and efficiency as component costs rise due to AI demand, potentially adopting new business models to keep consoles accessible, while Xbox rolls out disc-to-digital and reevaluates hardware strategy amid price increases.