“I’m Excited for How We Will Capture the Opportunity Ahead” Microsoft CEO Issues Statement on Phil Spencer Xbox Departure

by

Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, announced yesterday that he’s leaving both his role and the company. Now, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has released a statement about the future of Xbox. In it, he emphasizes how important Xbox is to Microsoft, celebrates Phil Spencer’s contributions, and explains who will be leading the team going forward.

Phil Spencer began his career at Microsoft as an intern in 1988. When the Xbox launched in 2001, he became a leader within Microsoft Game Studios, initially for the European, Middle Eastern, and African regions. He continued to climb the ranks, becoming general manager of Microsoft Studios in 2008. In 2017, he was named Executive Vice President of Gaming, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella. Most recently, in 2022, Phil Spencer became CEO of Microsoft Gaming, a position he held until yesterday.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Comments on Phil Spencer Leaving Xbox

Image via Microsoft

After Phil Spencer announced he was leaving on February 20th, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella released a statement on the Microsoft Blog. Nadella began by noting that gaming has always been a core part of Microsoft, and emphasized how important Xbox and gaming continue to be for the company, stating he’s very optimistic about gaming’s future and its central role in Microsoft’s plans for consumers.

Satya Nadella then announced Asha Sharma as the new Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. He highlighted her background at Meta and Instacart, noting her expertise in building successful platforms and managing large-scale businesses. In addition, Matt Booty will now be Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting directly to Sharma. He’s moving up from his previous position as President of Game Content and Xbox Studios.

Satya Nadella shared Phil Spencer’s long and successful career at Microsoft, revealing Spencer initially decided to step down from Xbox last year. Nadella commended Spencer’s 38 years of service, specifically mentioning his work expanding beyond Xbox, acquiring companies like Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft, and his dedication to players, developers, and his team. Nadella expressed his personal gratitude for Spencer’s leadership and assured everyone he’ll work with new leader Bobby Sharma to ensure a seamless transition. He concluded by expressing excitement for the future and a continued focus on what matters most to players and creators.

Image via Microsoft

Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma’s Statements On The Future of Xbox

I was reading the Microsoft Blog post, and it was really cool to see both Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma talk about this change. Phil started by saying how amazing his time at Microsoft has been – he called it a “privilege of a lifetime!” Then he gave Asha a warm welcome, saying he’s super confident in her because she’s so curious, clear-thinking, and really cares about what players and creators want. It was also nice to see Phil acknowledge Sarah Bond’s departure, saying she was a huge part of Xbox during a really important time.

In a recent statement, Asha Sharma outlined three main priorities for Xbox. First, she emphasized a focus on “great games,” explaining that Xbox will support its game studios, invest in popular franchises, and encourage innovative new projects. Second, she spoke about a “return to Xbox’s roots,” aiming to honor the company’s history while making it easier for developers to create games that reach all players. Finally, she highlighted the “future of play,” assuring players that Xbox will prioritize quality and creativity over quick profits, and won’t fill the platform with uninspired AI-generated content.

Read More

2026-02-21 20:07