Asha Sharma Microsoft Gaming CEO As Spencer Retires
Asha Sharma Microsoft Gaming CEO will lead Xbox and first-party studios and could refocus investor attention on AI integration and content strategy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Asha Sharma named EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, reporting to CEO Satya Nadella.
- Matt Booty promoted to Chief Content Officer to consolidate oversight of about 40 studios.
- Phil Spencer retired after a 38-year Microsoft career and will advise through summer 2026.
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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) named Asha Sharma Microsoft Gaming CEO on Feb. 20, 2026, replacing Phil Spencer after his 38-year Microsoft career. The move signals continued commitment to Xbox hardware and first-party content, alongside a push to integrate gaming with AI-driven consumer experiences.
Leadership Changes at Microsoft Gaming
Sharma joined Microsoft in 2024 from Instacart and previously held senior roles at Meta. She will report directly to CEO Satya Nadella, who cited her experience scaling global consumer ecosystems and aligning business models to long-term value in selecting her for the role.
The leadership change also promotes Matt Booty to executive vice president and chief content officer, reporting to Sharma. Booty will oversee about 40 studios, consolidating creative and release coordination under a single content executive.
Sarah Bond, Xbox president, is departing after contributing to Game Pass expansion, cloud gaming initiatives, recent hardware launches, and platform strategy.
Phil Spencer’s retirement is effective immediately, concluding a 38-year Microsoft tenure that included 12 years leading Xbox. He informed Nadella of his intention in fall 2025 and will remain in an advisory role through summer 2026.
Portfolio Oversight and Strategy
Sharma’s responsibilities cover Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King, bringing first-party franchises such as Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, Diablo, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush, and Fallout under her oversight.
Nadella framed the succession as consistent with a long-term commitment to Xbox hardware and first-party content, while aiming to fuse gaming ambitions with broader AI-driven consumer offerings. Booty’s new role centralizes content oversight across first-party studios, concentrating creative and release coordination.
This leadership reshuffle realigns operational reporting and signals an emphasis on integrating gaming with consumer AI initiatives while preserving investment in hardware and first-party content.
