Asha Sharma hears fans’ concerns and desires for console-exclusive video games.
Asha Sharma was promoted to Microsoft Gaming CEO as part of a restructuring on Friday, February 20, 2026. Sarah Bond, former Xbox president, has resigned from the company, and Phil Spencer, longtime Xbox head, has retired from Microsoft after nearly 40 years.
With her appointment to the top of Microsoft Gaming signaling the beginning of a new era for Xbox one gamer tweeted her to ask for the return of console exclusives. Sharma responded with, “Hear you.” She also responded to someone’s list of the top 3 Xbox exclusive franchises.
Recently, Microsoft has begun porting games from its Studios to other platforms as it continues to push the idea that most pieces of tech can be an Xbox.
Asha Sharma Wants to Bring About ‘The Return of Xbox’
In a memo she issued following her appointment as Microsoft gaming CEO, Sharma emphasized that her first commitment is to ensure there are great games for Microsoft-owned studios. Her second initiative focuses on “the return of Xbox.” Specifically, she wants to spearhead a recommitment to core Xbox fans and players.
“We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console which has shaped who we are. It connects us to the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and to the developers who build ambitious experiences for it,” she wrote.
Sharma is the former head of CoreAI at Microsoft. Read her comments on AI in gaming at this link. You can read her complete memo regarding her promotion by clicking here.
What do you think, could we see the return of Xbox-exclusive video games? Sound off in our official Discord server. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
This is cringe also reminiscent of Phil he did the same thing back in 2013 saying Banjo and other old IP would come back they never did. Just CGI trailers for games that got cancelled or flop.
We finally started getting rid of stupid exclusivity deals and now gamers are suggesting it again?
Nobody benefits from console exclusives. They’re inherently anti-consumer.
Some people are genuine idiots and shouldn’t be listened to.
In an idyllic world you would be right. There’s no benefit for Xbox players for games to be multiplatform (at least single player games)neither PlayStation (with the exception of HD2, almost 2 years after launch)nor Nintendo are changing their exclusivity policies (PlayStation just tried to make crimson desert a year long exclusive). So why would any Xbox supporter want their games to no longer be exclusive, while other platforms remain so? It’s basic psychology. You’re either being willingly ignorant of it, or you’re just ignorant. Idk which paints you in a worse light.
Already cancelled GPU, but this is the last straw. So they acquire a near monopoly on studios and publishers, and suddenly we’re talking about exclusives. What a shock. Only…there can’t be any exclusives on Xbox, because EVERYTHING is an Xbox, right?
Game Pass was enough to convince me to buy an Xbox for the first time since the original. But it’s not worth $30/month, and a system with no games has no value. I don’t care about Halo, and Bethesda isn’t releasing anything for years that isn’t a remake. COD hasn’t been great in a long time, Diablo is lost, and Fable just isn’t enough on it’s own even if it comes out amazing.
I cannot wait to sell my Series X and buy a Steam Machine. Maybe it’s less powerful, but it’s got ten times the library, and it has a marketplace that actually respects my wallet. Plus a headset, and a handheld that all share the same library, so all my games are just wherever I want to play. I know it’s going to be more expensive than it should be, and it still feels like a better value overall than whatever Xbox is turning into.
@SellingMySeries X
As I am reading your comment, I’m thinking, if this guy says all these games are mid so he is switching to PS5 I am going to laugh my ass off. So I will give you a tip of the hat for at least saying you are planning on switching to Steam Deck. Being sdomeone who is fortunate enough to have a Series X, PS5, Switch 2, and a PC (and a Quest 3 and 2 Steam Decks)… I gotta say, PC is the best platform for gaming hands down. As far as consoles, I really like my Series X, mostly because of Game Pass and my main friend group plays there (I have always said, the best console to buy is the one all of your friends are on, n I sdtill stick by that).
There are a few things I gotta contest from your comment though…
Game Pass Ultimate being $30… Who the Hell is paying $30 for Game Pass???
If you really dont know where to go to buy it for cheaper (I just paid $13 for this months Game Pass personally) then you have problems. It is so damn easy to find GP deals.
The Steam Machine… I mean I was 100% going to buy one day one when I was anticipating $700 being the highest it would be… But with prices still going up regularly and them having to delay the thing… It could honestly be a around a thousand bucks easy. N for what it is, as someone with a PC already, that wouldnt be worth it just to have my PC on my TV… I have a ultrawide monitor anyways.
But yeah, at this point I really do not think we can even say what price to expect for the Steam Machine. They were saying it would be a PC price since day one, which makes it sound like it was never going to be around $500.
Go get Game Pass Ultimate for the price everyone else is getting it at and quit tripping out as if Xbox owes you more. At least Xbox doesn’t charge you for MFing cloud saves like PlayStation does LoL