How Asha Sharma Plans to Lead as CEO of Microsoft Gaming

Microsoft Gaming has appointed Asha Sharma as its new CEO, with the executive delivering a striking opening statement that games "will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop".

Asha, who becomes Executive Vice President at Microsoft and will report to CEO Satya Nadella, has also pledged a "renewed commitment to Xbox, starting with the console which has shaped who we are".

The appointment follows Microsoft's latest report, which revealed a 9% year-over-year decline in total gaming revenue and a significant 32% drop in Xbox hardware sales.

Asha replaces the retiring Phil Spencer and will be joined at the helm of Microsoft Gaming by new Chief Content Officer, Matt Booty.

Sarah Bond, former President of Xbox, has opted to leave Microsoft to "begin a new chapter".

Three core commitments

In her first statement as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Asha outlines three central commitments: "great games", "the return of Xbox" and the "future of play".

Despite her previous role as President of CoreAI Product at Microsoft, Asha urges against overuse of artificial intelligence in games development.

She says: "To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters and worlds that people love. But we will not treat those worlds as static IP to milk and monetise. We will build a shared platform and tools that empower developers and players to create and share their own stories."

Asha continues: "As monetisation and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans and created with the most innovative technology provided by us."

Discussing Matt's appointment as Chief Content Officer, Asha says he was promoted as he "understands the craft and the challenges of building great games, has led teams that deliver award-winning work and has earned the trust of game developers across the industry".

Matt adds: "I'm excited to partner with Asha as our next CEO. Our first conversations centred on her commitment to making great games and the role that plays in our overall success. She asks questions, pushes for clarity and wants our choices grounded in player and developer needs. That mindset matters as the industry around us is changing quickly: how players engage, how games are made, and how business models and platforms evolve."

Questions over industry experience

Following Asha's appointment, concerns have been raised regarding her suitability for the role. Despite her experience in product development and four years at Microsoft, the Gaming division is now led by a CEO with no former gaming sector experience.

Asha's appointment could signal a shift in product development, with Xbox bidding to expand across PC, mobile and cloud. However, the company faces fierce competition from Nintendo and Sony.

Concluding her statement, Asha says: "The next 25 years belong to the teams who dare to build something surprising, something no one else is willing to try, and have the patience to see it through. We have done this before and I am here to help us do it again. I want to return to the renegade spirit that built Xbox in the first place. It will require us to relentlessly question everything, revisit processes, protect what works and be brave enough to change what does not."