Xbox Shutting Down in Favor of AI, According to Xbox Co-Founder

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The gaming world is buzzing after Microsoft announced that Phil Spencer is stepping down as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, and Sarah Bond will be taking over as President and COO. Everyone is now discussing what these changes mean for the future of Xbox.

Talk about the future of Xbox picked up steam when Asha Sharma, an AI expert with limited gaming experience, was named the new CEO. Now, a key figure from Xbox’s past has shared their thoughts, predicting that artificial intelligence will soon be hugely important in the world of gaming.

Xbox Co-Founder Seamus Blackley Says AI Will Replace Xbox as Fans Know It

Asha Sharma’s appointment as Xbox CEO made waves, and one prominent voice quickly weighed in: Seamus Blackley, a co-founder of Xbox. Blackley was instrumental in developing the original Xbox concept while at Microsoft between 1999 and 2002.

Seamus Blackley has consistently shared his opinions on the video game industry, often commenting on things like console technology, subscription services, and what makes console gaming unique. In a recent interview with GamesBeat, he stated that the appointment of Asha Sharma as CEO of Microsoft Gaming suggests Xbox is nearing the end of its lifespan.

Suggesting that Xbox will slowly be replaced by AI gaming, Blackley said:

While Blackley’s comments were strong, they echo a widespread feeling of doubt within the gaming community about Microsoft’s direction. Although Phil Spencer’s leadership wasn’t perfect, Microsoft hadn’t demonstrated a clear commitment to using AI for Xbox until they brought on Sharma. That’s now changing with recent developments.

As a long-time Xbox fan, I’ve been watching Microsoft’s moves in AI for a while now, and they’ve clearly been putting a lot of effort into it across the company. It feels like gaming is where they’re going to really push things next, and honestly, while it was a surprise to hear about Asha Sharma becoming the new Xbox CEO, I’m starting to think it’s just the beginning of some big changes focused on AI!

The future of Xbox and Microsoft Gaming is currently uncertain, which isn’t a good sign as they prepare for the next generation of consoles. It’s unclear if recent predictions about the brand’s future will come true, but one thing is clear: Xbox is about to enter a new and significantly different period under its new leadership.

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2026-02-24 02:08