Microsoft Gaming Names Asha Sharma CEO After Spencer Retires

Microsoft announced a significant leadership transition in its gaming division on Friday, with long-time CEO Phil Spencer retiring after more than a decade at the helm and Xbox President Sarah Bond also stepping down. Asha Sharma, previously the president of Microsoft's Core AI product group, has been appointed as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming.

Spencer, who joined Microsoft in 1999 and took over as head of Xbox in 2014 before becoming CEO following the 2023 Activision Blizzard acquisition, led the division through a period of expansion. Under his guidance, Microsoft acquired major studios including Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, launched the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, and advanced cloud gaming initiatives. These efforts broadened Xbox's reach beyond traditional consoles to include PCs, mobile devices, and streaming platforms. The company also shifted toward multiplatform distribution, making key titles available on rival systems to increase accessibility and revenue.

The changes come amid challenges for Xbox, which has trailed competitors Sony and Nintendo in console sales in recent years. Microsoft raised Xbox hardware prices twice last year and increased Game...