Incoming Xbox Boss Promises a ‘Renewed Commitment to Console’, and ‘Hears’ Fans on Skipping PS5

by

Update [Sat 21st Feb 2026, 6pm]:

Well, what a bizarre state of affairs we’re watching unfold online.

For over a year, Microsoft has been emphasizing that the future of gaming involves playing on multiple platforms. They’ve already made most of their games available on PlayStation 5, and plan to release even more, including titles like Fable and Halo: Campaign Evolved.

New CEO Asha Sharma’s initial statements seemed carefully balanced, avoiding any clear indication of changes to the company’s plans. However, her recent social media activity is sending mixed signals as she works to establish her public persona.

Among them is this post which we imagine will get picked up everywhere.

“Hear you,” she said, after a user practically begged her to ensure “Xbox games are only on Xbox”.

Does this call for a different approach? It seems likely that consumer confidence has decreased by now.

It’s strange she – or more likely her publicists – would even consider something that could cause her problems down the line.

Strange times, folks.

Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are both leaving their leadership positions at Xbox, effective immediately. Asha Sharma is the new CEO.

With new leaders in place, Microsoft’s gaming branch has been shifting towards releasing games on multiple platforms for the last year and a half, which leads to some important questions about what’s next for the division.

Currently, games like Forza Horizon 5 are performing very well on PlayStation 5, and we’re also expecting titles like Halo: Combat Evolved to be released on the system soon.

So, what is the ex-CoreAI executive’s stance?

Sharma gave a speech to employees and the public, carefully balancing the need to appeal to passionate Xbox fans with the expectations of her company’s leadership.

They’re really pushing this idea of Xbox making a comeback and focusing on consoles again, but then they immediately say gaming isn’t just about consoles anymore – it’s everywhere! It’s kind of confusing, like they can’t decide what direction they’re going in.

Part of her statement reads:

We’re renewing our dedication to our loyal Xbox fans and players – those who’ve been with us for the last 25 years – and to the developers who create the incredible worlds and experiences enjoyed by players everywhere.

We’re celebrating the history of Xbox and reaffirming our dedication to the platform, beginning with the console that defined us. It’s what connects us to our passionate players and the talented developers who create amazing games for Xbox.

Gaming isn’t tied to just one device anymore—it happens across PCs, phones, and the cloud. Xbox should offer a smooth, fast experience for all our players, and support the communities they’re a part of. We’re working to make it easier for developers to create games that everyone can enjoy, no matter where or how they play.

Microsoft seems committed to supporting multiple platforms for the foreseeable future. To reinforce this, here’s a statement from CEO Satya Nadella:

We’ve now surpassed 500 million players who use our platform every month. We’re also a leading publisher on all gaming platforms, and we’re constantly working on new improvements to our hardware, games, and community features – all to support both creators and players.

A key detail people are focusing on in this announcement is Sharma’s experience in artificial intelligence.

However, she firmly states the company won’t prioritize quick gains or fill its platform with low-quality, artificial intelligence-generated content. And for the record, she actually used the word “slop” – we’re just reporting her exact words.

She points out that games are, and will always remain, a form of art – made by people using the latest technology.

Amen to that, we suppose.

Read More

2026-02-21 21:38