All articles tagged with #microsoft gaming
Under new leadership, Xbox pivots back toward Gen 9 hardware and nostalgia-driven updates, including biweekly Series X/S improvements, a rebranded Xbox label, cheaper Game Pass tiers, and new peripherals aimed at coaxing former players back, signaling a potential return to growth while weighing exclusivity and price against competition.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma pledges a 'no bad AI' policy at Xbox, insisting AI is part of gaming but that great stories remain human-crafted and the platform will avoid 'soulless AI slop' or short-term efficiency grabs. The move follows Sharma’s rise from CoreAI president to Microsoft Gaming chief, amid leadership changes that see Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond depart Xbox, signaling a push toward platform-building during a transformative tech era.
Asha Sharma was named CEO of Microsoft Gaming, succeeding Phil Spencer, signaling a platform-wide, AI-forward approach for Xbox across console, PC, mobile, and cloud. Drawing on leadership roles at Instacart, Meta, Porch, and Microsoft’s CoreAI, she outlines priorities of great games, loyalty to core Xbox fans, and new business models, while not treating franchises as static IP. Her first move: promote Matt Booty to Chief Content Officer to anchor content while she focuses on cross-platform execution and community engagement. The shift comes amid revenue pressure and leadership changes, with Sharma emphasizing gaming as art and a renegade spirit for Xbox.”,
Xbox President Sarah Bond is leaving Microsoft to pursue her next steps, saying the moment is right during a period of change after the Activision Blizzard deal. She praises incoming Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma and will remain as an adviser to ensure a smooth transition as the company progresses on its next-generation Xbox, which is reportedly in development amid potential memory shortages; Bond also continues her duties on Tyson Foods' board.
Microsoft named Asha Sharma, formerly head of CoreAI, as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming to succeed Phil Spencer. Sharma frames her priorities around delivering “great games,” reviving Xbox, and shaping the future of play, saying games should have deep emotional resonance and a distinct point of view while committing to listening to the community. With a strong AI background, she asserts “no tolerance for bad AI,” but acknowledges AI’s ongoing role as a growth engine, stressing that great stories are still created by humans. Her platform-building approach aims for consistency and trust as she steers the division through industry transformation, ahead of major announcements at GDC and Xbox’s upcoming showcases.
Phil Spencer is retiring as CEO of Microsoft Gaming after nearly four decades with Xbox; Asha Sharma will become CEO, reporting to Satya Nadella, with Spencer remaining as an adviser through the summer. As part of the overhaul, Sarah Bond is leaving Microsoft and Matt Booty is promoted to Chief Content Officer, with Microsoft Gaming overseeing studios like Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, King and Mojang. The leadership shuffle aims to ensure stability and continued growth of Xbox, Game Pass and the broader gaming ecosystem under Sharma’s new tenure.
Microsoft names Asha Sharma as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming after Phil Spencer’s departure; Sharma’s first memo outlines three commitments—great games, the return of Xbox with cross‑device reach (console, PC, mobile, and cloud), and a future of play that explores new business models while ensuring monetization and AI evolve without sacrificing the artistry of game creation.
Microsoft announced a major leadership reshuffle in its gaming division: Xbox chief Phil Spencer will retire after nearly four decades, with Sarah Bond also leaving; Asha Sharma, currently head of CoreAI, will become CEO of Microsoft Gaming and Spencer will stay on in an advisory role through the summer. The changes also include Matt Booty’s promotion to EVP and chief content officer as Sharma sets a strategy centered on great games, Xbox growth, and the future of play.
Microsoft's canceled ZeniMax Online game, codenamed Blackbird, was a highly anticipated sci-fi third-person shooter that Phil Spencer enjoyed playing, but it was ultimately canceled in July likely due to high production costs despite positive early feedback and impressive gameplay footage, highlighting the unpredictable nature of game development and corporate decision-making.
Microsoft announced significant layoffs affecting up to 9,000 employees, including over 70 at Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios, amid broader cuts impacting several gaming projects such as Everwild, Blackbird, and Perfect Dark, as part of a strategic shift to focus on growth areas and increase organizational agility.
There is no Forza Horizon 6 announced for 2025, but Microsoft teased its potential release in 2026 to coincide with Xbox's 25th anniversary, suggesting fans will have to wait another year for the next installment in the series.
Microsoft Gaming will host a 30-minute Xbox Partner Preview live stream on March 6, showcasing more than a dozen new trailers for third-party titles, including Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and The First Berserker: Khazan, among others. The stream will be available on YouTube and Twitch, offering a closer look at upcoming titles.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer cancels the deal with Activision-Blizzard after playing Overwatch 2 and expressing disappointment with the game's changes, missing features, and broken promises. Spencer criticizes the shift to 5v5 gameplay, longer queue times for tanks, and the absence of the anticipated single-player mode. Overwatch 2 Game Director Aaron Keller admits that the focus was on transitioning to a more predatory business model, leading to Spencer's frustration. Activision-Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick declines to comment.
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, confirmed in an interview that Xbox has a "plan" to release four first-party games every year, with this year already seeing several releases. Spencer acknowledged the mixed reception of Redfall and expressed the desire to improve Xbox's performance in offering exclusive, first-party titles. The announcement is seen as encouraging for Xbox users who are excited about the prospect of more new games.