New Xbox Leadership Reaffirms Commitment to Consoles and First-Party Games
On February 21, 2026, Microsoft announced significant leadership changes within its gaming division at its headquarters in Redmond, United States. Phil Spencer retired as CEO after 38 years with the company. He was succeeded by Asha Sharma, formerly president of CoreAI, who was appointed as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Concurrently, Matt Booty was promoted to Chief Content Officer. Sarah Bond, former President of Xbox, also announced her departure from Microsoft amid these changes.
Following their appointments, Asha Sharma and Matt Booty reaffirmed Xbox's commitment to its consoles and first-party game development, addressing fan concerns and outlining their vision for the future. These leadership changes mark a significant restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division, emphasizing continued investment in Xbox hardware and exclusive games.