Dear team,
Today I begin my role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
I feel two things at once: humility and urgency.
Humble because this team has built something extraordinary over the decades. Urgency because gaming is in a period of rapid change and we need to move forward with clarity and conviction.
I am entering a body of work shaped by generations of artists, engineers, designers, writers, musicians, operators and others who create worlds that bring joy and deep personal meaning to hundreds of millions of players. The level of craftsmanship here is exceptional and enhanced by Xbox, which was founded on the belief that the power of games brings people together and moves the industry forward.
Thanks to Phil for his leadership and to every studio, platform and operations team that built this foundation. We are stewards of some of the most beloved stories and characters in entertainment, connecting players and creators around the entertainment and gaming community in brand new ways.
My first job is simple: understand why it works and protect it.
It starts with three commitments.
First, great games.
It all starts here. Before we do anything, we need to have great games that players love. Unforgettable characters, stories that make us feel, innovative gameplay and creative excellence. We will strengthen our studios, invest in iconic franchises and support bold new ideas. We will take risks. We will enter new categories and markets where we can add real value based on what players care about most.
In honor of this commitment, I promoted Matt Booty. He understands the craft and challenges of building great games, has led teams that deliver award-winning work, and earned the trust of game developers across the industry.
Second, the return of the Xbox.
We’re recommitting to our core Xbox fans and players, those who’ve invested with us over the past 25 years, and the developers who create the vast universes and experiences embraced by gamers around the world.
We’ll celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox, starting with the console that shaped who we are. It connects us with the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and with the developers who create ambitious experiences for it.
Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of a single piece of hardware. As we expand into desktop, mobile, and the cloud, Xbox should be seamless, immediate, and worthy of the communities we serve. We break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise.
Third, the future of the game.
We are witnessing the rebirth of the game.
To meet this moment, we’re inventing new business models and new ways to play by building on what we already have: iconic teams, characters and worlds that people love. But we’re not going to treat these worlds like static IP to milk and monetize them. We will build a shared platform and tools to enable developers and players to create and share their own stories.
As monetization and AI evolve and shape this future, we will not chase short-term efficiencies or flood our ecosystem with mindless AI. Games are and always will be art, created by humans and created using the most innovative technologies we provide.
The next 25 years belong to the teams that dare to build something surprising that no one else is willing to try, and have the patience to see it through. We’ve done it before and I’m here to help us do it again. I want to get back to the renegade spirit that built Xbox in the first place. It will require us to relentlessly question everything, rethink processes, protect what works, and have the courage to change what doesn’t.
Thank you for welcoming me on this journey.
Asha