Incoming Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma used her first internal memo to declare “the return of Xbox” and signal a renewed focus on console hardware, a sharp rhetorical shift from the company’s recent push to make every screen an Xbox.

Divining meaning from the words of Microsoft Gaming's new CEO.

Seamus Blackley had grim predictions for the future of the Xbox brand under new Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma.

Speculation has been rampant since Microsoft announced changes to its Xbox leadership, and in a post on LinkedIn, Sarah Bond added a bit more context to her decision to join Phil Spencer in departing for different pastures.

The last few years of Xbox have been expensive. Under Phil Spencer’s leadership, Microsoft has spent billions of dollars in an attempt to build an ambitious future for gaming that looks a lot like Netflix.

Rumors around a dedicated Xbox handheld have resurfaced after new insider reports outlined Microsoft’s long-term hardware strategy.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is making big promises for the future of Xbox, including new consoles and game made by humans.

Over the last few years, Microsoft has been bringing its big exclusive franchises to rival platforms like PlayStation and Switch. Satya Nadella even said he wanted to “get rid of” console exclusives — that might not be a great move.

Microsoft's new top gaming exec has the trust of Satya Nadella, a track record running platforms at Facebook, Instacart, and Microsoft's AI division, and a goal to restore Xbox's "renegade spirit." What she doesn't have is gaming industry experience — and the community is watching closely.