By Wesley Yin-Poole
Publication Date: 2026-03-09 11:48:00
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has offered Xbox staff words of reassurance following the exit of previous gaming boss Phil Spencer.
Last month, Microsoft announced a huge shakeup at its gaming business, with Spencer retiring, would-be successor Sarah Bond out, and Asha Sharma drafted in as new Xbox CEO.
Following the news, Seamus Blackley, who co-created Xbox at Microsoft, said that because Xbox is not a core part of Microsoft’s all-encompassing AI push, it was potentially “being sunsetted.” Blackley added that the fact Sharma came over from Microsoft’s AI team with no gaming background was further evidence of the company’s strategy. “They don’t say that, but that’s what’s happening,” Blackley said. “I expect that the new CEO, Asha Sharma, her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night.”
But Nadella has countered that concern by saying Microsoft is “long on gaming.” As reported by
