On a Friday night we tend to be focused on other things, not a movement that reconfigures Xbox’s leadership. However, that is what we have found: the retirement of Phil Spencer, the resignation of Sarah Bond as president of Xbox and a new name at the head of Microsoft Gaming. The information, published by IGNpoints to a replacement that few publicly anticipated. And when we talk about the two most visible faces of the division in the last decade, we are not talking about a simple internal adjustment, but about a turning point.
In detail. Phil Spencer will leave his position as CEO of Microsoft Gaming on Monday, February 23, 2026, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by the aforementioned media. In the email sent to staff, Spencer himself explains that the conversation began months ago: “Last fall, I told Satya that I was thinking about taking a step back and starting the next chapter of my life.” The transition, he maintains, was designed in advance. In parallel, as we say, Sarah Bond has presented her resignation as president of Xbox. It has not been proposed as a natural succession or as a staggered relief, but rather as an exit that coincides with Spencer’s retirement.
The new boss. The name that the helm takes is Asha Sharmauntil now president of CoreAI, the area focused on product and artificial intelligence within Microsoft. As his LinkedIn profile shows, he joined the company in 2024 and was previously VP of Product and Engineering at Meta and COO at Instacart, in addition to serving on the board of The Home Depot. His profile comes from the field of product and large-scale platforms, rather than from a public career linked to the historical management of Xbox.
The redesign does not remain in the executive management. Matt Booty, until now head of Xbox Game Studios, is promoted to Chief Content Officer and will work closely with Sharma. It is not a minor change: it begins to play a central role in the content strategy at a time when the portfolio of studios and franchises is one of the division’s most visible assets.
Three commitments. In his first message to the team, Sharma structures his roadmap into three clear axes. The first is direct: “First, great games. It all starts here.” It speaks of unforgettable characters, heart-warming stories and creative excellence, and promises to empower studios, invest in iconic franchises and support new ideas. Within this framework is the promotion of Booty, whom he defines as someone who understands “the craft and challenges of building great games.”
The second axis goes through what it calls “the return of Xbox”, with an explicit reaffirmation of the console’s role in the brand’s identity after 25 years. The third looks at the “future of gaming,” with new business models and shared tools for developers and players in an environment where gaming lives across diverse devices.
Balance and what’s coming. The transition, at least on paper, has been designed months in advance and with an orderly transfer. Spencer will continue in an advisory role over the summer, but formal leadership will change hands on Monday, February 23, 2026. From now on, the focus will shift to execution: how the commitment to big games is realized, what real weight the console will have in the strategy and how cross-platform expansion will be integrated. The relief is defined; The stage begins that we will have to measure in facts.
Images | Xbox
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