Overview
- Microsoft confirmed Phil Spencer’s retirement, Asha Sharma’s appointment to lead Microsoft Gaming, Sarah Bond’s departure, and Matt Booty’s promotion to chief content officer.
- Sharma told Windows Central she is “committed to Xbox, starting with the console,” adding that hardware announcements will arrive “soon.”
- The Verge reported that many employees opposed the recent “This is an Xbox” push associated with Sarah Bond, linking it to declining hardware revenue and internal frustration.
- Sharma and Booty said there are no corporate mandates to use AI in Xbox products, and Sharma pledged to keep “soulless AI slop” out of the ecosystem.
- Coverage highlights a mix of relief and skepticism inside and outside Xbox, with GDC and a spring showcase positioned as early tests of whether the reset delivers concrete change.