Microsoft Gaming’s New Boss Wants to Foster Community, Won’t Flood Ecosystem With AI Slop

by

Following some uncertainty about the future of Xbox under its new leader, Asha Sharma (formerly President of CoreAI at Microsoft), she recently spoke with Windows Central to emphasize her dedication to the Xbox brand. She discussed her vision for the future, describing it as a “return to Xbox” and outlining her plans for the division.

According to Sharma, the idea behind ‘Return to Xbox’ is to recapture the original energy of the team. He describes this as a willingness to take risks, be innovative, and have fun – qualities he’s heard described as ‘renegade,’ ‘rebellious,’ and simply, ‘fun.’ This was his guiding thought when he initially conceived the idea.

I know a lot of Xbox players were getting worried – would Microsoft stop making consoles, or would the quality of games from Xbox Game Studios drop? I heard those concerns, and I want to assure everyone that Microsoft is still fully committed to consoles. We’re not going anywhere!

We know Xbox players have put a lot of money and time into the platform, and it’s my priority to respect that investment and keep it safe. I’m dedicated to strengthening Xbox, starting with the consoles and hardware. We’ll be sharing more details and announcements about this very soon, and you’ll see us investing in these areas together.

She confirmed the company will continue releasing games on multiple platforms. While recognizing that many fans don’t have Xbox consoles, she expressed a desire to reach those players as well. She stated she needs time to evaluate past decisions and figure out the best way to do that moving forward.

To reassure Xbox fans worried about developers being pressured to use generative AI, Sharma explained that she doesn’t want creators to shift their attention away from making great games just to follow a new trend. Her priority is maintaining high product quality and serving the broader Xbox player base.

According to Sharma, what truly defines a community is building specifically for its existing, dedicated base. He emphasized that Xbox doesn’t want creators to spread themselves too thin by trying to appeal to every new trend. Instead, if Xbox sees potential in a new community, they’ll find a way to support it while ensuring creators remain focused on their original audience and strengths. Staying true to that core group is key to successful community building.

Throughout my career building platforms, I’ve found two things are essential for success: a high-quality product for users and making sound, ethical decisions. We have a large Xbox community, and we’re committed to supporting them in the best way possible.

Look, my time at CoreAI definitely shaped how I think about AI at Xbox. We all know AI can be powerful, but we’re being really careful about how we use it. I’ve made it clear – I’m not going to let a bunch of low-quality, uninspired content fill up our platforms. We’re not just going to pump out anything and everything; everything needs to be original and well-made. I really mean what I said before about that – quality over quantity, always.

Matt Booty, head of content at Xbox, also clarified that Microsoft isn’t requiring its game developers to incorporate AI into their games.

Throughout our studios, I see our talented team – the artists, coders, and writers – consistently creating amazing work. Historically, when new technology emerges, it creates demand for more specialized skills. This ultimately pushes us to deliver even higher-quality games.

We’re not being directed by Microsoft on how to use AI. Our teams have the freedom to explore and use any tools that could help them, like assisting with coding or finding errors in the development process. Ultimately, as Asha mentioned, we’re dedicated to creating art made by humans, and technology simply supports that goal.

Satya Nadella has appointed Samara Sharma as the new leader of Microsoft Gaming following the retirement of Phil Spencer and the departure of Xbox president Sarah Bond. Reports suggest Bond’s exit followed concerns about the performance of the recent “This is an Xbox” marketing campaign.

Read More

2026-02-25 16:42