Articles about Xbox

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Microsoft’s reset, a new era for Seattle startups, and how AI is changing everything for founders

On this week’s show, we’re on the GeekWire deck for our annual founder open house, where we dig into Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs — including a major Xbox shakeup — and the surprising rise of hardware companies on the GeekWire 200. Read More

The awkward timing of the Xbox CEO’s new Federal Reserve gig

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma was named to co-lead a Federal Reserve task force on jobs and productivity — three days after announcing 3,200 job cuts across Microsoft’s gaming division. The gaming press is having a field day. Read More

Why the video game industry may be sliding toward its next big crash

Commentary: The last couple of weeks have served as a capstone to what’s become a bad few years for the international video game industry. Now it appears the larger sector is headed directly into some significant crash, as several unsustainable practices all seem to be approaching a crisis point at once. Read More

Tech Moves: Seattle tech exec named Dropbox CPO; Xbox VP among layoffs; C-suite changes at T-Mobile

Past exec at Amazon, Microsoft and Google is now Dropbox’s first CPO; T-Mobile appoints a new C-suite leader and promotes another; and Xbox VP Kevin LaChapelle is laid off in Microsoft’s big round of layoffs. Read More

A ‘painful’ reset for Xbox: 3,200 job cuts, studio spinoffs, and a vow to return to growth in 2027

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history: 3,200 job cuts, four studio spinoffs, a new COO, and a flattened management structure — all aimed at turning around a division she says has been losing 64 cents on every dollar invested in its studios. Read More

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs, about 2% globally, revamps salesforce and launches massive Xbox overhaul

Microsoft is cutting 4,800 jobs and overhauling its Xbox gaming business in what its new gaming CEO calls the biggest restructuring in Xbox history, while reshaping its sales and consulting division amid record AI spending and a 30% stock slide. Read More

Xbox at a crossroads: 25 years later, Microsoft is done playing around

Microsoft is pressing its Xbox business for growth and stronger profits after 25 years of losses and thin margins. Here’s the math and the strategy behind the reset, with Xbox layoffs expected as soon as next week. Read More

No discs, more problems: What Sony’s all-digital PlayStation means for gamers and the industry

Sony will phase out physical discs for PlayStation games starting in January 2028, making all new titles download-only. The move ends trade-ins and lending, raises the cost of entry to the console market, and turns purchased games into licenses that can be revoked. Read More

Microsoft set for new round of job cuts next week, spanning Xbox, sales and consulting

Microsoft is preparing another round of layoffs, spanning Xbox, sales and consulting, as it holds down operating costs while pouring more than $100 billion into AI infrastructure. Read More

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Xbox: ‘We have to turn this into a sustainable business’

Microsoft has spent years subsidizing Xbox rather than profiting from it, CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged this week, as he addressed… Read More

‘This cannot continue’: Microsoft Xbox CEO calls for reset amid reports of looming job cuts

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told employees that Microsoft’s gaming business will end the fiscal year at about a 3% profit margin, saying years of heavy spending without revenue growth “cannot continue” — as Bloomberg and The Verge reported major job cuts coming next month.
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Xbox Showcase 2026: New CEO’s first broadcast shows off ‘Gears of War,’ ‘Halo,’ ‘Spyro’ and more

New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma’s first Xbox Games Showcase centered on upcoming releases and a return to console exclusives. Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution were confirmed as Xbox console exclusives, alongside release dates for Fable and Halo: Campaign Evolved and a new look at Seattle-based Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3. Read More

Tech Moves: Xbox names CTO; Smartsheet gets first AI chief; Amazon VP departs for DoorDash

Microsoft promoted Scott Van Vliet to Xbox CTO, while Smartsheet elevated Drew Gardner to the newly created role of chief AI officer. Amazon saw some departures and arrivals, including a VP’s exit for DoorDash. Read More

A ‘final season’ at Microsoft for Yusuf Mehdi: Longtime exec plans to leave after one last year

Yusuf Mehdi, one of Microsoft’s best-known and longest-serving business leaders, whose tenure has spanned 35 years from Windows 3.1 to… Read More

Microsoft’s new Xbox chief nixes Gaming Copilot for mobile and console, shakes up leadership

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is winding down Gaming Copilot on mobile and canceling its console launch, barely a year after Microsoft debuted the AI feature. She’s also overhauling the gaming unit’s leadership, including new execs from her previous group, CoreAI. Read More

Microsoft’s new Xbox chief makes first major change, cutting Game Pass price, but with a catch

Microsoft is dropping Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 a month, but future Call of Duty games will no longer be available at launch. It’s the first significant move by new gaming CEO Asha Sharma. Read More

Mary Jo Foley: What the heck is going on with Microsoft lately?

In her debut column for GeekWire, longtime Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley digs into the recent wave of reorgs, hiring freezes, and leadership shakeups in Redmond, and asks whether it’s business as usual or something bigger. Read More

Bungie scores an unexpected success with ‘Marathon’ revival

After a CEO’s departure, layoffs, an indefinite delay, and the failure of a similar Sony title, Bungie’s online shooter looked like it was headed for disaster. Instead, it’s become one of this year’s unexpected gaming successes. Read More

Tech Moves: More changes at Xbox; Remitly taps new accounting chief; Atlassian CTO steps down

Another Xbox leader departs; Remitly names a new accounting leader; and more key personnel changes. Read More

Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot: Another setback for the gaming press?

Microsoft says it’s exploring ways to license guide content from creators, but the details are vague, and the GDC demo told a different story. Read More

Xbox surprise: Microsoft reveals ‘Project Helix’ as the codename of its next console

In the days leading up to one of the games industry’s bigger trade conferences, Microsoft has quietly unveiled the code name for its next-generation Xbox console: Project Helix. Read More

Tech Moves: Zillow names CPO; AWS leader retires; Microsoft hires AI expert from Apple

Zillow Group announced three promotions to its senior leadership team. Earlier this month, Zillow reported its revenue grew 16% last… Read More

Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft’s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business

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. Read More

Analysis: The best thing that the new Xbox CEO can do is … nothing

New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is in a unique position where she really can succeed in the video game business, despite her inexperience in the field, without really trying. Read More

Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring after 38 years at Microsoft; Asha Sharma named new gaming CEO

Phil Spencer, who reshaped Xbox through landmark acquisitions and a bet on cloud gaming, is stepping down. His successor, Asha Sharma, has roots in the Seattle startup community, with deep experience in consumer platforms. Xbox President Sarah Bond is leaving. Read More

Analysis: Valve’s new Steam Hardware projects are a potential challenge to Microsoft and Meta

In the wake of the success of the Steam Deck, a portable gaming PC aimed at a casual audience, it… Read More

New report about crazy Xbox profit expectations helps shed light on Microsoft’s broader gaming changes

For the last two years, Microsoft’s video game division has been working to meet financial targets that are well in excess of the typical industry standard, which has led to waves of layoffs, canceled projects, and a general perception that the company is scrambling. Read More

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