Xbox's Sarah Bond and the Sales Slide: February 21, 2026 Uncovered

Today’s Gaming News Roundup

Have you ever had a Saturday where all you wanted to do was relax, only for a shocking update to appear in your news feed? That's exactly what happened here.

What became of our beloved Xbox executive, Sarah Bond? Following almost ten years in the industry, her unexpected departure feels like an unforeseen turn of events. To be honest, the turmoil this creates within Microsoft's gaming sector leaves me with a mix of emotions.

What Became of Xbox President Sarah Bond? As Phil Spencer Steps Down and Asha Sharma Moves Up, Longtime Assistant Departs

Sarah Bond, who served as the head of Xbox, has stepped down from her position. This marks a major change, considering she was part of the Xbox team for almost ten years. Her exit follows Phil Spencer's announcement of retirement on February 20, 2026, which has already caused waves in the gaming sector. What an exciting journey, right?

Asha Sharma is taking on the role of CEO at Microsoft Gaming, signaling a significant shift in leadership for Xbox. However, the reason behind Bond's departure remains a pressing concern for many. With Spencer no longer in the position, it appears to be an opportune moment for her to move on as well.

No particular individual has been designated as Bond's successor at this time, as Matt Booty has been promoted to Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma, who came to Microsoft in 2024 after previous positions at Meta and Instacart.

The complete analysis is available on IGN

Microsoft Insider Clippy Reveals Information About Major Xbox Changes

Phil Spencer has stepped down from his role as Xbox leader, with Microsoft appointing its AI head to take over. Surprising, isn't it? Clippy has the inside information on this change, talking about the future of Xbox in the gaming industry.

Will artificial intelligence result in more exciting games? I hope they don't rely too heavily on AI elements.

Jez Corden, a reporter from Windows Central and a trusted source for Xbox news, outlined Microsoft's "Four Horsemen" approach for the Xbox's 25th anniversary in 2026. This strategy includesFable, Gears of War: E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Forza Horizon 6as top-tier titles for that year's release. This comes after a tough 2025 marked by price increases and discussions about hardware, with the goal of reconnecting with dedicated fans via beloved franchises, and more announcements at the Xbox Developer_Direct event following January 20, 2026, including detailed looks atFable and surprises like past Hi-Fi Rush-style drops.

Details on Polygon

PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 1 Sales Declined in January in the US

Hardware sales in the United States suffered a decline in January 2026, with some surprising figures. ThePS5experienced a 17% decrease in sales, and theXbox Series X|Sdropped by 27%. The originalSwitchsuffered the greatest drop, falling 79%. But here's the thing?

Even with those declining numbers, hardware expenditures increased by 16% to $248 million, due to the launch of theSwitch 2. The PS5Still managed to claim the number one position in both unit and revenue sales, despite its drop. What a twist in the gaming industry!

Circana's January 2026 U.S. sales report, which covered the period from January 4 to 31, indicated that overall video game spending increased by 3% compared to the previous year, reaching $4.7 billion. This growth was fueled by a 23% rise in subscription spending and a 16% increase in hardware sales to $248 million, with theSwitch 2reducing losses on other platforms. VGChartz projected US unit sales for the month atPS5: 188,185 units (top in both quantity and value),Switch 2: 179,297 units (second position),Xbox Series X|S: 72,063 units (a decrease of 27%), andSwitch 1: [specific number not provided].

Read more at GameSpot

That's All, I'm Calling It, Xbox Has Passed Away, Final Hour: February 20

Alright, everyone, we're declaring it. Xbox is no more as of February 20, 2026. This may not come as a surprise if you've been keeping up with the gaming world. WithPlayStation and Nintendotop sales, Xbox has had difficulty keeping pace. Their most recent success?

It's hard to recall. And let's not forget the service problems causing troubleXbox Live, which have been widely covered. To be honest, it's like seeing a slow-motion train crash. So, what's going on? Xbox's efforts to introduce new ideas just didn't work out.

Here is Kotaku's perspective on it

"Today Marks an Exciting New Chapter" – Xbox Executive Phil Spencer Steps Down During Significant Leadership Changes

Phil Spencer is leaving his position at Microsoft following nearly four decades with the company. Asha Sharma, who currently serves as president of CoreAI, will take over. This marks a significant shift for Xbox, particularly as Sarah Bond is also departing. There's a major leadership transition happening.

How will this impact our cherished Xbox games? With both Spencer and Bond no longer with the company, I'm curious about the changes Sharma might introduce. Will she advocate for greater use of AI in gaming? It's definitely a time to watch closely as Xbox moves toward 2025 under its new leadership.

Here is Eurogamer's perspective on it

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Receives Another Major Update Introducing a New Fleet of Warships and 'Significant Modifications' to Naval Gameplay

The Last ChieftainsDownloadable content is now available. This expansion includes new playable groups, each with distinct skills and narratives.

It costs $14.99. Equivalent to roughly two cups of premium coffee, yet without the energy spikes. Gamers can also experience fresh maps and missions, offering approximately 8 hours of entertainment for your weekend break. Who could resist?

Original report: PC Gamer

God of War: Sons of Sparta Review and Spending $99 on Virtual Boy. The Game Informer Show

Alright, so I just tuned into the most recent episode ofThe Game Informer Show, and there's some chatter aboutGod of War: Sons of Sparta. This is a new 2D metroidvania game developed by Mega Cat Studios and Sony Santa Monica. It was released during last week's PlayStation State of Play, and, to put it mildly, it didn't quite meet expectations. Kyle Hilliard from Game Informer finds it rather disappointing.

Additionally, Kyle mentioned spending $99 on Nintendo'sVirtual Boyre-release. He described what it's like to perform its unusual collection on theSwitch 2. As the episode concluded, Eric Van Allen talked about a mysterious adventure game calledParanormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, which he found very impressive. And Alex Van Aken added his perspective from his experience playingCairna rock climbing simulation that features some interesting narratives.

If you're interested, tune in to their show every Friday for more discussions about games and exclusive previews from the Game Informer team. On this episode ofThe Game Informer Show, we look into God of War: Sons of Spartaand the untamed realm of Nintendo'sVirtual Boy.

Check Game Informer for a preview

My Perspective on the Xbox Restructuring

I'm really confused by the changes at Xbox following Sarah Bond's departure. I've heard from multiple people who believed Xbox was declining over the past few years, and this feels like the last straw. Could it be too soon to think PlayStation is about to dominate?

But truly, don't let this corporate turmoil spoil your enjoyment of gaming. You should be having a good time, not worrying about executive changes. Want to discuss rumors or just talk about your newest gaming experiences? Join us in ourDiscordand let's continue the discussion.

The post February 21, 2026: The Situation with Xbox's Sarah Bond and Declining Xbox Sales appeared first on Two Average Gamers.

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