Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Pledges Turnaround For Gaming Unit
Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, is signaling a renewed focus on the console business and a reset in tone as she begins leading the gaming division. In comments reported by multiple outlets, Sharma said, “This team has brought it back before, and I’m here to help us do it again.”
Sharma’s remarks come as she begins outlining early priorities for Xbox and how she intends to work with the organization. In an interview cited in recent coverage, she framed the effort as a “return to Xbox” and said “Xbox starts with console,” language that emphasizes hardware as a foundation of the brand.
The early messaging is paired with a promise of more details to come. Sharma told at least one outlet that audiences will “hear more” about hardware “soon,” without providing timelines or product specifics in the reports referenced.
At the same time, Xbox leadership is also addressing questions about artificial intelligence inside the organization. GamesIndustry.biz reported that Xbox faces “no pressure from Microsoft” to use AI, according to the new leadership. The statement adds to a broader set of assurances about how the business will be run and what tools will or will not be mandated from above.
Sharma’s comments have drawn attention because they touch on two of the most closely watched issues around Xbox: the future of dedicated Xbox hardware and how tightly the gaming division will be steered by Microsoft corporate priorities. For players, developers, and partners, clearer direction on hardware typically affects long-term planning, from game development roadmaps to platform support decisions.
The emphasis on “console” also matters because it puts a traditional product pillar back at the center of public messaging at a time when platform strategies across the industry are evolving. Xbox operates across console, PC, and services, but Sharma’s framing highlights hardware as a starting point rather than an afterthought.
The tone of her quote about bringing it back “again” underscores a leadership narrative built around rebuilding and execution. It positions the current effort as something the organization has accomplished before, while also signaling that the new CEO plans to be directly involved in the work ahead.
What happens next is expected to be more concrete communication on hardware. Sharma has said more information is coming “soon,” and her early interviews suggest additional updates are planned as she settles into the role.
In the near term, observers will be watching for formal announcements that match the new messaging, including any specifics on future Xbox hardware plans and further clarity on operational priorities under Sharma’s leadership.
For now, Sharma’s first public lines are clear: Xbox is centering the console again, and she is tying her tenure to delivering a comeback the team says it has achieved before.
