Asha Sharma: Defining Great Games, Rejecting Bad AI, and Leading Microsoft Gaming

It marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for Xbox.

On Friday, Microsoft Gaming revealed that a long-time executive is stepping down.Phil Spencer is set to step down as CEOand that Asha Sharma, head of product development at Microsoft CoreAI, had been chosen as his successor.

Having been a key figure in the gaming community for many years, Sharma is aware that she has big expectations to meet, as she mentioned.In an interview, she expressed "deep respect" for Spencer's leadership and the legacy he is leaving for her and current chief content officer Matt Booty.

Sharma swiftly outlined her key priorities for Microsoft Gaming in an internal memo confirming her promotion, highlighting "great games," "the revival of Xbox," and the "future of gaming" as her primary focuses for the gaming community.

First, what defines a great game for Sharma, who previously held senior roles at Instacart and Meta? The newly appointed CEO of Microsoft Gaming believes it's about games that have "deep emotional impact" and "a unique perspective." She aims to create narratives that make players "experience emotions," similar to the feelings that Campo Santo's 2016 first-person mystery "Firewatch" stirred in her.

Sharma assumes the position as leader of the top rival to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo, fully aware that she is an outsider to the broader gaming community and still has much to learn, but views this as an advantage, committed to "staying grounded in what the community is telling us."

"I'm entering the gaming world as a platform creator," Sharma stated, noting that her objective is to "deserve the trust of players and developers" and demonstrate to the fanbase that "consistency" is key over time.

In her interview with , Sharma recognized the volatile condition of the gaming industry, citing Matthew Ball's recent State of Video Gaming in 2026 report as proof that the broader "transformation" of the sector is "upholding our values while staying receptive to what lies ahead."

Because of her solid experience in AI, the initial responses to Sharma's appointment have sparked worries about her particular opinions on the application of generative AI in game creation. Sharma states her position is straightforward: she has "no tolerance for poor AI."

Artificial intelligence has been a part of gaming for a long time and will remain so," Sharma stated, highlighting that the gaming industry requires new "sources of growth," while emphasizing that "compelling narratives are crafted by people.

Spencer's departure occurs as Microsoft Gaming nears its 25th anniversary this fall, an occasion Sharma is eager to welcome as she outlines the company's future path. Sharma views it as "a time to celebrate the past while defining the next phase," which will involve significant updates from the upcoming GDC Festival of Gaming in March and potentially even more major announcements before Xbox's next Games Showcase event this spring.

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