The Verge recently released an investigative report revealing the underlying reasons for the leadership changes at Xbox.
The report points out that the departures of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond were due to internal dissatisfaction with business direction and continued poor performance.
On February 21, Microsoft announced that Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond were leaving the company, and that Asha Sharma would succeed them as CEO. It was revealed that the news was leaked prematurely, forcing Microsoft to release it earlier than the originally scheduled date (February 24), causing many employees to only learn of the matter through news reports, and even Bond's social media team was caught off guard.
The report shows that Bond's push for an "Xbox Play Anywhere" approach sparked a backlash from employees. Her attempt to elevate smartphones and tablets to the same level as game consoles, a strategy that distanced them from dedicated hardware, not only displeased employees but also led to accusations of an exclusionary team structure. Most employees interviewed welcomed Bond's departure.
Furthermore, Xbox Series X|S sales have declined for three consecutive years, putting it at a disadvantage in competition with the PS5, and Bond's strategy has been criticized for underestimating traditional gamers.
Phil Spencer, who has long led Xbox, has denied retirement rumors, but over the past year, it has been internally considered his retirement inevitable. Following massive layoffs and internal chaos after the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft decided to have Sharma take over to reorganize the company.
New CEO Sharma has pledged to press the "reset button," achieving a "Return of Xbox" and rekindling the original "rebellious spirit." Addressing community concerns about his AI background and lack of gaming experience, Sharma announced that he would not use AI to pollute the environment for profit and emphasized that games are art.
Public information shows that Sharma has played more than 30 games since January. Her account "AMRAHSAHSA" shows that she has achieved all achievements in Firewatch and has reached 98% progress in Ball x Pit.
Bond has stated that the development of the next-generation Xbox is progressing smoothly and that he will assist with the handover as an advisor. Sharma will work with Matt Booty to advance the business restructuring.
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