XBOX Wants to “Remain a Great Publisher” When it Comes to Exclusives, Says CEO

by

Recently, there’s been talk about Xbox potentially returning to exclusive games for its consoles, and now the head of Xbox, Asha Sharma, has directly addressed the issue. Speaking at a Bloomberg Live event, as reported by VideoGamesChronicle, Sharma stated that Xbox will be “reevaluating” its strategy for exclusive titles, particularly because many of their own games are now being released on multiple platforms.

Sharma explained that Microsoft’s choice to make some Xbox games exclusive is about finding the right mix between reaching a larger audience with wider availability and encouraging people to buy Xbox consoles.

Discussing the possibility of releasing games only on their platforms, Sharma acknowledged it’s a difficult decision. He explained that as one of the world’s largest game publishers, they need games to be widely available. However, they’re also working to become a platform, which requires offering unique games and services that players can’t find anywhere else. They are currently carefully considering how to balance these two goals.

Sharma also suggested that Xbox is considering a more flexible strategy for releasing games, deciding whether each title will be exclusive to their platform individually. For now, they’re watching how other companies handle similar decisions to inform their own approach.

She explained they’re carefully considering each title, learning from what’s worked for others in the industry, and making sure they approach it strategically.

I was really interested to hear Sharma talk about her first few months as the head of Xbox. She explained how they’re planning to build on the recent positive changes and keep the Xbox brand moving forward – it sounds like they’ve got some exciting things in the works!

We’ve made significant progress in turning Xbox around. In the past 100 days, we’ve shipped more consoles than we did in the entire previous year. We also successfully revitalized Game Pass, which had been declining for eight months, and it’s now growing again with more people continuing their subscriptions.

We’re really focusing on reconnecting with our players and community. Over the next 100 days, we need to fundamentally rethink our business – how we spend money, what we focus on, and how we work – so we can start growing again and become a leading force in the gaming world.

In April, Sharma discussed the potential for future Xbox games to only be available on their platform. While she didn’t make any firm promises, she explained that the company is carefully considering all the information and making strategic decisions about this. She said they’ll announce their plans when they’re ready. For now, however, she stated they have no specific commitments to share.

“I want to make the right decision, not the fastest decision,” she explained.

Read More

2026-06-05 16:47