Xbox fans are divided over Asha Sharma’s return to Xbox
The Xbox went through a lot of changes last weekend, and it’s going to take some time to adjust. Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, recently sat down with Jez Corden here on Windows Central to discuss her new role, as well as her comments to X, previously on Twitter, about wanting “return to Xbox”.
Sharma has now clarified what that really means.
Community reaction to Sharma’s “return to Xbox” opinions, and his follow-up clarifications, are mixed. That, perhaps, is not surprising given Xbox’s current reputation and recent leadership changes.
Our latest poll above asked readers how they felt about Sharma’s comments on Xbox hardware. Currently, the results show that we have more hope, as 36% of voters say they hope to be cautious, followed by 27% who are skeptical.
In our r/WindowsCentral subreddit, one of the top answers says that many gamers have already moved from Xbox to PlayStation or PC. A move away from the current multiplatform approach will, in that view, alienate many fans.
Several responses echoed that concern, but not everyone saw it the same way. The other stepped back and answered: “If they don’t take it out, there won’t be an Xbox because the Xbox division will be gone. To make an omelet you need to crack a few eggs.”
Again “break a few eggs” may be what Sharma is willing to do, if his comments about exclusivity finally translate into meaningful strategic changes. In context, when asked about the exclusivity, Sharma actually said:
I look at the value of the whole life, not just what happened in the past, or short-term efficiency and things like that. A plan is a plan until it’s not a plan
Asha Sharma – Xbox CEO
While some believe it is too late to turn back, others are taking an optimistic approach. A few users suggested that Xbox might adopt a strategy closer to Sony’s, focusing on timed exclusives rather than day-to-day launches of games on competing platforms. Even those voices favoring a full return to strict selection sound unlikely.
That broad feeling runs throughout the series. Many are looking for a strong Xbox exclusive to make a clear case for investing in hardware, however there is a recognition that the market may have gone too far for that model to return to its true form.
Yes, there are others extremely reaction. One user on r/WindowsCentral says Microsoft should go out of business altogether, saying it has ruined Windows and the wider tech industry. Others agreed, though leaving the platform outright would leave millions of players with libraries and purchases in limbo.
I should also mention u/Johnicorn, who raised Scalebound. It seems that even in the post-Phil Spencer era and the extensive strategic reset, calls for a revival of Scalebound are far from over. I have to admit that one made me laugh.
Importantly, all of this put together, the conversation shows how divided and emotionally invested the Xbox community is, and that’s just within our community.
It’s still early days for Sharma, and we won’t really know what his vision for Xbox is until we start seeing actions instead of words. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how this plays out and whether Xbox can rebuild trust and momentum with its fans.
🗨️ Passing it on to you!
What does “returning to Xbox” mean to you? Should Xbox double down on exclusives, stick to multiplatform, or find a middle ground? Let me know in the comments section or over on Reddit!
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