New Xbox Leadership Reaffirms Commitment to Consoles and First-Party Games

Asha Sharma assumed the role of CEO of Microsoft Gaming on February 23, 2026, succeeding Phil Spencer. In her inaugural address, Sharma emphasized a "return to Xbox," underscoring the console's central role in the company's gaming strategy. She stated that while gaming spans multiple devices, the Xbox console remains a foundational element, serving as a key link between players, developers, and the Xbox ecosystem.

Matt Booty, newly appointed as Chief Content Officer, reinforced this commitment by highlighting the synergy between Xbox's hardware and first-party studios. He described the organization as a federation of studios capable of supporting both experimental projects and major blockbusters, aiming to protect creative risk-taking.

Addressing concerns about the integration of artificial intelligence in game development, Sharma drew a clear distinction between utilizing AI as a tool and relying on it for content creation. She emphasized that games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by the company.

In response to fan feedback regarding the importance of exclusive titles, Sharma acknowledged these concerns, indicating that the company is attentive to the community's desire for exclusive games.

Booty assured that there are no organizational changes underway for Xbox's nearly 40 game development studios, emphasizing his focus on supporting existing teams and leaders to create conditions for them to do their best work.

Sharma's appointment comes at a time of significant transition for Xbox, following Spencer's retirement after 38 years with Microsoft. Her background includes leadership roles at Instacart and Meta, as well as serving as head of Microsoft's CoreAI group.