Phil Spencer is Retiring, Sarah Bond Resigns, Microsoft AI Exec Named New Xbox Boss -
by William D'Angelo , posted on 20 February 2026 / 8,937 Views
A huge shakeup with Xbox leadership has occurred with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer retiring and Xbox President Sarah Bond resigning, according to internal emails sent to Microsoft employees obtained by IGN.
Asha Sharma, currently the President of Microsoft’s CoreAI product, has been brought on as the new head of Xbox, while Matt Booty has been promoted to Chief Content Officer and will work closely with Sharma.
Sharma previously worked at Meta as the VP of Product and Engineering and at Instacart as COO. She is also a board member of The Home Depot. She was first hired by Microsoft in 2024.
Phil Spencer will remain on in an advisory role through the summer to support the transition as Sharma takes over.
Read the internal emails sent to employees below:
Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO)
Gaming has been part of Microsoft from the start. Flight Simulator shipped before Windows, and you can practically ray‑trace a line from DirectX in the ’90s to the accelerated‑compute era we’re in today.
As we celebrate Xbox’s 25th year, the opportunity and innovation agenda in front of us is expansive. Today we reach over 500 million monthly active users, are a top publisher across all platforms, and continue to innovate across gaming hardware, content and community, in service of creators and players everywhere.
I am long on gaming and its role at the center of our consumer ambition, and as we look ahead, I’m excited to share that Asha Sharma will become Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming, reporting to me. Over the last two years at Microsoft, and previously as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and a Vice President at Meta, Asha has helped build and scale services that reach billions of people and support thriving consumer and developer ecosystems. She brings deep experience building and growing platforms, aligning business models to long-term value, and operating at global scale, which will be critical in leading our gaming business into its next era of growth.
Matt Booty will become Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Asha. Matt’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to games and to the people who make them. Under his leadership, Microsoft Gaming has grown to span nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King, which are home to beloved franchises including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout.
Together, Asha and Matt have the right combination of consumer product leadership and gaming depth to push our platform innovation and content pipeline forward. Last year, Phil Spencer made the decision to retire from the company, and since then we’ve been talking about succession planning. I want to thank Phil for his extraordinary leadership and partnership. Over 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading Gaming, Phil helped transform what we do and how we do it. He expanded our reach across PC, mobile, and cloud; nearly tripled the size of the business; helped shape our strategy through the acquisitions of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft; and strengthened our culture across our studios and platforms. I’ve long admired Phil’s unwavering commitment to players, creators, and his team, and I am personally grateful for his leadership and counsel. He will continue working closely with Asha to ensure a smooth transition.
We have extraordinary creative talent across our studios and a global platform that is second to none. I’m excited for how we will capture the opportunity ahead and define what comes next, while staying grounded in what players and creators value.
Please join me in congratulating Asha and Matt on their new roles, and in thanking Phil for everything he has done for Microsoft and for our industry.
Phil Spencer (Retiring Microsoft Gaming CEO)
Subject: A New Chapter for Microsoft Gaming
When I walked through Microsoft’s doors as an intern in June of 1988, I could never have imagined the products I’d help build, the players and customers we’d serve, or the extraordinary teams I’d be lucky enough to join. It’s been an epic ride and truly the privilege of a lifetime.
Last fall, I shared with Satya that I was thinking about stepping back and starting the next chapter of my life. From that moment, we aligned on approaching this transition with intention, ensuring stability, and strengthening the foundation we’ve built. Xbox has always been more than a business. It’s a vibrant community of players, creators, and teams who care deeply about what we build and how we build it. And it deserves a thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead.
Today marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and I want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team. Working with her over the past several months has given me tremendous confidence. She brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future. We know this is an important moment for our fans, partners, and team, and we’re committed to getting it right. I’ll remain in an advisory role through the summer to support a smooth handoff.
I’m also grateful for the strength of our studios organization. Matt Booty and our studios teams continue to build an incredible portfolio, and I have full confidence in the leadership and creative momentum across our global studios. I want to congratulate Matt on his promotion to EVP and Chief Content Officer.
As part of this transition, Sarah Bond has decided to leave Microsoft to begin a new chapter. Sarah has been instrumental during a defining period for Xbox, shaping our platform strategy, expanding Game Pass and cloud gaming, supporting new hardware launches, and guiding some of the most significant moments in our history. I’m grateful for her partnership and the impact she’s had, and I wish her the very best in what comes next.
Most of all, to everyone in Microsoft Gaming, I want to say “thank you”. I’ve learned so much from this team and community, grown alongside you, and been continually inspired by the creativity, courage, and care you bring to players, creators, and to one another every day.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the last 25 years, and I have complete confidence in all of you and in the opportunities ahead. I’ll be cheering you on in this next chapter as Xbox’s proudest fan and player.
Phil
XBL: P3
Asha Sharma (New Microsoft Gaming CEO)
Dear team,
Today I begin my role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
I feel two things at once: humility and urgency.
Humility because this team has built something extraordinary over decades. Urgency because gaming is in a period of rapid change, and we need to move with clarity and conviction.
I am stepping into work shaped by generations of artists, engineers, designers, writers, musicians, operators and more who create worlds that have brought joy and deep personal meaning to hundreds of millions of players. The level of craft here is exceptional, and it is amplified by Xbox, which was founded in the belief that the power of games connect people and push the industry forward.
Thank you to Phil for his leadership, and to every studio, platform, and operations team that built this foundation. We are stewards of some of the most loved stories and characters in entertainment and bring players and creators together around the fun and community of gaming in entirely new ways.
My first job is simple: understand what makes this work and protect it.
That starts with three commitments.
First, great games.
Everything begins here. We must have great games beloved by players before we do anything. Unforgettable characters, stories that make us feel, innovative game play, and creative excellence. We will empower our studios, invest in iconic franchises, and back bold new ideas. We will take risks. We will enter new categories and markets where we can add real value, grounded in what players care about most.
I promoted Matt Booty in honor of this commitment. He understands the craft and the challenges of building great games, has led teams that deliver award-winning work, and has earned the trust of game developers across the industry.
Second, the return of Xbox.
We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world.
We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console which has shaped who we are. It connects us to the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and to the developers who build ambitious experiences for it.
Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of any single piece of hardware. As we expand across PC, mobile, and cloud, Xbox should feel seamless, instant, and worthy of the communities we serve. We will break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise.
Third, future of play.
We are witnessing the reinvention of play.
To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters, and worlds that people love. But we will not treat those worlds as static IP to milk and monetize. We will build a shared platform and tools that empower developers and players to create and share their own stories.
As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.
The next 25 years belong to the teams who dare to build something surprising, something no one else is willing to try, and have the patience to see it through. We have done this before, and I am here to help us do it again. I want to return to the renegade spirit that built Xbox in the first place. It will require us to relentlessly question everything, revisit processes, protect what works, and be brave enough to change what does not.
Thank you for welcoming me into this journey.
Asha
Matt Booty (Xbox Chief Content Officer)
I read Phil’s note with much gratitude. He has been a steady champion for game creators and our studio teams, and I’ve learned so much from his leadership over the years. All our games have benefited from his foundational support. I’m also grateful to Satya for his ongoing commitment to gaming and holding a vision of how it can connect back to the larger company.
Looking forward, I’m excited to partner with Asha as our next CEO. Our first conversations centered on her commitment to making great games and the role that plays in our overall success. She asks questions, pushes for clarity, and wants our choices grounded in player and developer needs. That mindset matters as the industry around us is changing quickly: how players engage, how games are made, and how business models and platforms evolve.
We have good reasons to believe in what’s ahead. This organization and its franchises have navigated change for decades, and our strength comes from teams who know how to adapt and keep delivering. That confidence is grounded in a strong pipeline of established franchises, new bets we believe in, and clear player demand for what we are building.
My focus is on supporting the teams and leaders we have in place and creating the conditions for them to do their best work. To be clear, there are no organizational changes underway for our studios.
Thanks for everything you do for players and for each other.
-Matt
Sarah Bond (Former Xbox President)
Hi team,
I know there’s a lot of news to take in today.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the past eight-plus years. PC and cloud gaming are growing faster than ever, our next console is well underway, and together we’ve helped lay the foundation for a more open gaming platform that spans devices and reaches players around the world.
When we announced our intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022, I committed to helping lead Xbox through what would be a critical period of change. Over the past four years, we’ve navigated that moment together and positioned the business for what comes next. We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and did it as one team.
With that, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We’re living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m energized by what’s ahead. This moment also presents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter. I’ve had the privilege of spending time with Asha over the last few weeks as we’ve planned for this transition, and I’ve seen firsthand her deep commitment to our players, developers, and brand. She brings deep technology and commerce experience, along with a strong track record of building and scaling platforms that the world uses. Xbox deserves this. I’m excited to see her lead this next chapter for our team. I’ll remain on as a Special Advisor to Asha to help ensure a smooth transition and set the organization up for continued success.
I want to thank Phil for his mentorship and friendship over the years. He’s been a consistent champion of this business and the people who make it what it is, and I’ve learned a great deal from the way he leads through both opportunity and challenge. I’m grateful for his trust and support throughout my time on the team. I also want to thank Satya for his sponsorship and support throughout my time at Microsoft.
As I prepare to sign off, I’ve been reflecting on three simple questions I’ve tried to use to guide my days:
Did I bring my best?
Did I help someone else succeed?
Did I do my best work?
I hope the answer has been yes for many of you. It’s been a privilege to work alongside this team.
Always,
Sarah
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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The actual final nail in the coffin
I mean, from her statement and background Im hardly excited about the future of Xbox but bearing in mind what been happening under Phil it doesn’t felt like much of an abrupt change.
I knew as soon as Sony did something super dumb , Microsoft was gonna materialize out of no where looking for someone to hold their beer.
Whats super dumb what MS just did? And how does it even compare to shutting down BP?
In context, appointing an AI exec with no gaming background to run their gaming division.
Shutting one studio VS removing the top heads of the business and replacing them with someone with no gaming experince.
If you think Sony shutting BP is worse, then you are insane.
The fact you think replacing leadership is worse then a studio being closed forever and 70+ jobs lost is worse is insane.
The End. FIN
Becomes CEO
Spends many billions on studios and publishers
No new games
Retires
TIME FOR AI
I hate this timeline
Genuinely lol'd at that. Glad I'm not an Xbox fan.
There were new games, just the quality wasn't good enough
Only new title I can recall is Hi Fi Rush and they shut down that studio.
Do you think Tango were able to make Hi-Fi Rush in time after the MS purchase and because of it? Based on game dev times and the fact they also released Ghostwire a year before, kinda feel they were both in dev long before the buy out.
This said, I do think that Obsidian's buyout allowed them a bit more freedom to experiment, which is why we have got Grounded and Pentiment.
I forced myself to try to come up with a W for Phil and here you go taking it away.
No new games? You joking? They have been the only one releasing games
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Too little too late. Spencer was a million times worse than Mattrick.
The next one will be even worse.
Microsoft AI Exec > Realistically, it can't get any worse than this.
You don't even know what woke is.
They don't either. Just a scape goat term for anything they dislike.
The biggest is issue here is that new head of XBOX obviously dont know anything about gaming. But i 100% believe that MS should do anything they can, even beg, if needed, to bring back Mattrick. Even with awful One launch, XBOX looked good with all exclusive games announced at the time.
Can't even fathom you actually believe that. lol
For XBOX Spencer is ten times worst then Mattrick. Just look at games we got and all deals when he was in charge. Then look what Spencer did. The only good thing he did in 12 years is Gamepass. And even that is amazing deal for people but awful decision on business side.
I'll say again: I can't fathom you actually believe that.
-"Just look at games we got and all deals when he was in charge. Then look what Spencer did."
But you can't look at that without acknowledging the broader circumstances. Don Mattrick became Xbox head while it was already full steam ahead (2007). He followed that up by heading one of the most successful console accessories (which hardcore gamers didn't really care for) and one of the most disastrous console launches of all time. Going from "buy a 360 for backwards compatibility" to some of the most expansive BC consoles is another easy gold star.
-"Whatever Don did could have been fixed."
And Phil Spencer was among those course-correcting initial Xbone policies:
-Not requiring Kinect
-Trading in used games
-etc. etc.
-"Spencer took things from bad to worse and cratered."
What does this actually mean though? Because, if things go according to plan, MS' upcoming release cadence is essentially the 'Halo, Gears, Forza, Fable' meme alongside some other IPs they own. If you're speaking more to their perceived quality, then this is just a matter of taste.
Matrick was only head of Xbox for 4 years. Phil 13 years. 13 years he destroyed the brand. Cancelled several projects. Shut down multiple studios. Spent billions he could never make back. Laid off thousands. Lied out his ass every time he spoke. Shut down studios even after a game was called a hit. Retailers all over the world was shown in another thread they stopped carrying Xbox products. Phil killed the brand.
Ironically, part of your response argues in favor of my case. Mattrick's tenure nearly bringing Xbox to extinction or being sold off (as detailed by that documentary) after only 4 years makes Spencer come out better simply by keeping things afloat. Whatever strange mutation Xbox - the brand - has taken on now, it's still here and its publishing arm is among the largest atm.
I'm not denying terrible blotches during his reign, but more context is important depending on what specific game or studio cancellation we're talking about. Some we're expected - but unfortunate - while others came out of left field.
-"Shut down studios even after a game was called a hit."
Case in point: given that you're talking about Tango Gameworks, I mean... they did remain intact to be sold off to Krafton after the fact. No doubt it was an insane decision, but at least it paints a fuller picture.
You can say Mattrick isn't responsible for such a huge culling, but it's also conversely true he didn't carry much interest in shoring up a new generation of 1st party anyways - which was a consistent talking point against Xbox.
No way. Mattrick is why Xbox one was what it is.
Erm, Xbox is the way it is because of the decisions it has made since Xbox one. Don does not work there anymore, Spencer and co have done jack shit since.
Pretty sure to have read Microsoft was ready to shut Xbox down completely until Phil convinced Satya he could get 100 million people to subscribe to Gamepass. So he did save it before killing it.
AI exec? It's over lol
Eww
No use removing one tumor when the entire body is riddled with terminal cancer. Too little too late.
It's official, we're in the worst possible timeline for Xbox.
XBOX has taken this path since XB1 reveal. So .. 13 years in the making ..
Phil will be missed. No longer seeing him on stage with his random video game shirts.
Is this an early April fool's joke? Are they really putting someone from the AI side of MSlop to rule their gaming division? lol
Playstation needs to get rid of Nishino and Hulst and change course before its too late.
That wont happen until PS sees their business crashing the way Xbox was. Considering PS is pretty much the default home console now I don't see it happening.
Why are you commenting about PlayStation employees in an article about Xbox ones?
Because Playstation is heading in the direction of Xbox but they still have time to course correct before its too late.
Guys, I don't always comment on every matter from being here since a lurker during early 2006-2007, signing up in 2008 I think. But let's all remember competition is good here. We DON'T want to see Xbox leave or get worse. It plays a special part in my heart, and people calling this a "final nail in the coffin" is not something we need on chartz. We need to wish the best for Xbox to continue with strength, even in scarier times. I know the site heavily leans PS and Nintendo, but please, let's consider something positive for XB. The site needs to make a major turn around with how people post.
While I do agree with the sentiment that competition is good, people are just stating the obvious. I don't think anyone wanted this. Ever since MS started to bow out Sony just does whatever it wants, and the results are an overall far worse industry.
I hate to see this, jobs and creative visions being thrown out, but this is the current state of affairs, and the person who was put in charge seems to be the worst option, based on his background.
Competition is good, yes but what you’re seeing is people being frustrated that Xbox appears to be in a doom spiral, with execs constantly making decisions to the detriment of the Xbox business, and have been doing for a good while now.
We don’t want to see it get worse but that is what we are seeing.
People haven’t been keen on how AI has impacted gaming, and now we’re seeing MS appoint an AI exec as the new head of Xbox. That does not inspire confidence and that is why you’re getting comments like ‘final nail in the coffin’.
I do think a lot of people "wanted this", sadly. I'm just someone who loves Xbox, so it's sad to see. I just appreciate gaming regardless of device, but I do not appreciate years of chartz toxicity. Even during 360 days, when XB was arguably ahead in ways, it was consistent backlash. Largely, it prevents a lot of XB fans here from posting, maybe that's more unspoken of.... idk.
That’s fair. Personally Id not seen the sort of fanboy rivalry of the PS360 of late but maybe I haven’t gone where it is.
I’m primarily an Xbox gamer as well but would agree with the ‘nail in the coffin’ sentiment. Not because Im happy about it but because I think its an accurate reflection of Xbox’s current direction.
I don't even game on consoles anymore, I just come to this site to see where the industry is headed. It is true that rampant fanboyism was a thing (used to be one of them) but I think most people here are more interested in seeing gaming thrive as a whole. At least that's what I get from most discussions.
Competition is good when the competition adds to, rather than either taking away or simply contributing nothing. The industry is better off without the latter type of competitor, especially since Sony does have other competition in the form of Nintendo and Valve. Xbox has done a lot more taking away than adding to over the past decade. There was no reason why they needed to own ABK or Bethesda except for rent-seeking behavior.
So when PS made acquisitions or paid for exclusives (and timed ones) that's bad too? Just want to clarify.
Did I say I liked Sony's acquisitions?
For the past 25 years, Microsoft acted like they could just open up their checkbook and buy their way to the top of the industry, instead of actually contributing to the industry. Hell, one of their first acts when they started up Xbox was to fly to Kyoto and try to buy out Nintendo. Thankfully, Nintendo laughed them all the way back to Washington. Even just a few years ago, when Microsoft started going on its mega-merger spree, Phil Spencer was trying to pressure Nintendo into selling out to Microsoft.
"Competition" like that, the industry can do without. Valve will be sufficient as a third competitor to Nintendo and PlayStation.
I'm glad you aren't in favor of Sony's then, by the same measure. OK cool you just confirmed you wanted the "competition" XB gone, got it. Typical example of the biased chartz toxicity here. Just know if they go away, you're looking at a worse experience overall for gaming competition. Nobody should want or be happy about that, no matter if they are less competition than Nintendo - whatever you're biased measure was.
I suspect this will be the end for xbox as we have known it, they will be a third party. At the end it seems the world only needs sony,nintendo and steam
I think the end was awhile back, we’re just watching the slow terminal decline in action.
Having no Xbox is had as then Sony can do what it like and charge ridiculous prices for their hardware and games. They don't see Nintendo as competition
They can "not see" Nintendo as competition all they want, but Nintendo absolutely is competition, and strong competition at that. Nintendo is dominating Japan, which is still a key market.
Nintendo hardware specs are low compared to a PS5 and PS5 pro. Nintendo is always at least 2 generation behind.
So when pricing hardware for the level of specs Sony provides , then Sony can charge whatever they want if Xbox doesn't exist. That's and for us as gamers.
Nintendo is still a competitor. They've pretty much eaten Sony's lunch in Japan, which is why Sony now operates primarily out of California.
My guess is that Phil is legitimately ready to move on, and Sarah is quitting because she was passed over for Phil's job.
Anyway, I see there's a million comments in this thread and I know everybody loves to talk about this kind of stuff. But, the reality is, MS a mega corp, and they're still going to be a mega corp next week, regardless of who's running the show. It makes no real difference for us gamers.
Of the three, Matt Booty is the one I would have booted.
So there are actual consequences to tanking an entire business unit. Was strange to see them skate by without repercussions for so long...
But Matt did not get the Boot-y, he got promoted.
Sounds like Sarah Bond was fired? and Phil took a early retirement? wtf..... what a odd few days... after Sony with the BP closure, and then this?
Or Sarah Bond resigned because she didn't get Phil's job and someone else did. I always assumed she would take his position when he retired or left Microsoft/Xbox.
Yeah. Sounds to me like Phil legitimately retired, and Sarah quit because she was passed over for Phil's job. Even if Phil was pressured to resign, I would still say Sarah likely quit when she was passed over.
One has to wonder if this new CEO is even a fan of GamePass? We've all had that discussion if it's profitable or not when you take in 1st party budgets in the mix with everything. Could this new CEO get rid of GamePass entirely if the growth isn't there longterm?
That's a good question. Gamepass was Phil's baby. He made the beancounters shuffle money around to make his baby look profitable. He also wanted it to be a fair deal for gamers at least short term. This new CEO will either gut gamepass or make it tantamount to just paying for your own games. Kinda like how you can either watch anime by subbing to four different streaming services or you can just buy the friggin Blu-Rays for a little more money.
Gamepass derangement syndrome will never not be weird, and "shuffle money around" is illegal and a felony, the copium around gamepass is beyond pathetic 🤣
It's not illegal to arbitrarily decide that a data center that lends its servers, for 1 hour a day, to Gamepass doesn't have to get paid by Gamepass for use of its servers. It's not illegal to refuse to attribute falling game sales to gamepass and subtract lost game revenue from Gamepass's profits. It's not illegal to refuse to put the development costs of a game that went onto Gamepass day 1 as a Gamepass cost. It's not illegal to relabel Xbox Live as Gamepass Core in order to shove XBL revenue into Gamepass Revenue. All these little things add up and are in enough of a grey zone that MS can still cook the books and get away with it.
It's going to be interesting when MS goes full AI-Slop on you and you are the only one left defending them. Interesting but predictable.
You don't live in reality and just make up anything to fit a desperate narrative. It's quite sad.
Projection: When someone accuses someone of something that they themselves are guilty of.
Deflecting to avoid justifying your pathetic corporate cultist stance is more telling than anything.
Hahahahahaha!!! Projection is a form of deflection. You are projecting your own pathetic corporate cultist stance onto me in order to attempt to deflect from what I said concerning Gamepass. And now that that has failed you are projecting your deflection onto me as well.
It's like talking to a toddler🤦♂️
More projection from you!
Nothing is illegal until a judge says it is in a courtroom.
An AI would do a better job than Spencer...
I think they should let random.org get the role.
These two, Bond and Spencer should have left long long time ago. They didnt do a single good thing for XBOX brand. Seeing who is next head of XBOX makes me want to see Spencer back. Nothing can come out from someone who comes from AI division. Division you work at tells a lot about you. Spencer worked in Windows division before promoted to head of XBOX, and we saw how that ended, complete destruction of XBOX brand.
If CEO of MS have even little braid he would do anything in his power to bring Mattrick. At least he invested everything in to XBOX and he wanted brand to be as best as it could be. He just tried to implement all these thing a little to early. If he came up with all that crap today no one would say anything because almost everything he wanted to do with XBOX One all console manufactures are doing now.
Mattrick was far far far worse. Did you forget his marketing for Xbox one which was tv TV TV and being always online.
i am not even sure what you mean by that. Why would anyone who was 360 fan said anything bad about Mattrick when he was the reason why most of us had a blast with 360. Only things Spencer manage to do is to make me skip XBOX series generation and never wanting to own any XBOX ever
But did you forget what he did from 2007 till 2010 when XBOX was dominating. He didnt become head of XBOX in 2013, he was head of XBOX for 6 years at the time. Yes, that presentation of One was terrible but dont ignore everything he did before that. Spencer didnt do a thing to help XBOX, he literally destroyed whole brand.
He brought it back from extinction. Xbox never fully recovered on what mattrick did. He brought gamepass. He got Activision and blizzard deal sorted and other acquisition
this is what you all wanted, for Xbox to fail and become irrelevant. You just didn't think Sony would join in their footsteps with closing Bluepoint. that's only the begionning. Sony will shutter all their studios and surf on their 3rd party royalties into eternity. Thuis is what PS fanboys wanted and brought upon themselves. No competition for Sony anymore. they will milk you dry.
This would be bad for them though, they still need to appeal as a console maker. If you can just get anything on PC and Switch as well, most people might opt for that combo instead because at least with switch you know you are going to get things designed for it.
No one wants just a console that is a PC for cheap, consoles appeal because they offer something more. For Sony and Nintendo it's been their interactivity for years.
Kicking Xbox leadership was a long time coming. Shouldve happened a decade ago. But the new AI leader doesnt inspire confidence.
Y'all can say whatever you want about Nintendo and their conviction to protect their IPs, but in an era of AI taking over, the values of the company will probably be one of the thing that saves the gaming industry (once again),
But things were going so well...
pfft
"We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world."
Are they still play on an Xbox? Possible I guess as everything became an Xbox...
Is mayonnaise an Xbox?
Microsoft AI Executive taking over Xbox? Good lord.
Phil's legacy is mixed, for sure. I can't think of anything after the initial launch of Xbox Series X/S that he did well.
¨We recognize in these busy modern times, so many no longer have the time for their beloved hobby of gaming. That´s why at Xbox we are partnering with the industry leaders at Micrsoft CoreAI to bring you AI gaming. CoreAI can understand* your gaming preferences (or some simulation of this, but good enough for us) and play games for you 24/7. Because we understand social media is an important part of the gaming hobby, CoreAI can also post about ¨your¨ gaming exploits to social media platforms of your choice. And for retro gaming fans, it can even trash talk with best console warriors, to keep up that old PS3/360 vibes. Of course, Xbox is everywhere, so it can also do this with Playstation and Nintendo. The important part is that all costs are booked to other divisions while Xbox continues to claim all revenue as ¨profits¨, ignoring capital cost. Trust us, we gamed that with our own CoreAI chatbot, it really keeps up those stock prices, crucial for our 3rd mansion in the Virgin Islands. Oh, excuse me, I have to take a call from Mossad...¨
Appointing an AI slob as the new head of Xbox? What are they, fucking stupid? #FuckAI
This sounds like they were just aiming to make headlines.
You know when I saw the headline I thought this was an April Fools' joke because I saw AI named new boss. Then I remembered it is only February and not April yet.
Wait until someone wants to turn the whole brass being out as something good and promising for Xbox.
It is not like Phil had any say on the matter anyway.
