Yesterday, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced that he would be stepping down from his leadership position and leaving the company altogether, and now Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made an official statement regarding Xbox‘s future. This statement from Nadella discusses Xbox’s continued importance to Microsoft, talks about Phil Spencer’s legacy, and sheds more light on who will be taking over.
Phil Spencer joined Microsoft as an intern all the way back in 1988, and with the launch of the Xbox in 2001, he became the general manager of Microsoft Game Studios EMEA. In 2008, Spencer was promoted to general manager of Microsoft Studios, and almost a decade later he was granted the title of Executive Vice President of Gaming, where he reported directly to Satya Nadella. In 2022, Phil Spencer was given one final promotion, becoming the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, a title he held until yesterday’s announcement.
BREAKING: Phil Spencer is Retiring from Xbox Amid Leadership Shuffle
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is retiring amid a major Xbox leadership shuffle, including other resignations and promotions.
Following Phil Spencer’s departure announcement on February 20, an official statement from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was published on the Microsoft Blog. Nadella’s statement begins with the line “Gaming has been part of Microsoft from the start,” and the CEO goes on to affirm how important Xbox and the medium of gaming continues to be for Microsoft, stating that he is “long on gaming and its role at the center of our consumer ambition.”
The next, and longest, segment of Nadella’s statement introduces the new Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Asha Sharma. Sharma’s past experience as Vice President of Meta and Chief Operating Officer at Instacart is briefly detailed, with Nadella claiming that she “brings deep experience building and growing platforms, aligning business models to long-term value, and operating at global scale.” Nadella then confirms that Matt Booty will be stepping up from his former role as President of Game Content and Xbox Studios to become Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting directly to Asha Sharma.
Phil Spencer’s history with Microsoft is then highlighted by Nadella. Along with confirming that Spencer first decided to leave Xbox last year, Nadella praises Spencer’s work over the last 38 years, highlighting his cross-platform efforts, his acquisitions of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft, and his “unwavering commitment to players, creators, and his team.” Nadella states that he is “personally grateful” for Spencer’s leadership and counsel, and says that he will continue to work with Sharma to ensure a smooth transition. One of the closing lines of Nadella’s statement reads, “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.”
Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma’s Statements On The Future of Xbox
In that same Microsoft Blog post, both Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma also make official statements regarding this transition. Spencer’s statement begins with a reflection on his time at Microsoft, calling it “an epic ride and truly the privilege of a lifetime.” Spencer then welcomes Sharma, and states that working with her over the last few months has given him “tremendous confidence,” as she “brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future.” Interestingly, Phil Spencer’s statement is the only one to mention the departure of Sarah Bond, with Spencer calling the former Xbox President “instrumental during a defining period for Xbox.”
Asha Sharma’s official statement discusses three key “commitments.” The first is “great games,” with Sharma promising to “empower [Xbox’s] studios, invest in iconic franchises, and back bold new ideas.” The second commitment is the “return of Xbox,” with Sharma wanting to celebrate the company’s roots and continue to “break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere.” The third commitment is “future of play,” with Sharma stating that Xbox “will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop.”
Source: Microsoft Blog
