Seamus Blackley, who helped create the original Xbox, has publicly interpreted Microsoft's recent Xbox leadership shuffle as a sign the division is being prepared for a phased exit. He singled out the appointment of Asha Sharma as an indicator the move is less about growing the business and more about managing its transition toward AI priorities.

  • Blackley, a founding figure of the original Xbox, described the reshuffle as evidence the brand is being "sunsetted," suggesting a deliberate winding down rather than aggressive reinvestment.
  • He pointed to Asha Sharma’s new role as the kind of leadership one would bring in to oversee an orderly transition, implying her brief will be to shepherd the platform through change tied to AI strategy.
  • The co-creator believes the reorganisation signals Microsoft is pivoting resources and focus toward AI, with Xbox’s future responsibilities being reshaped accordingly.
  • Blackley’s comments add a prominent industry voice to ongoing debate about Microsoft’s long-term commitment to Xbox as a gaming-first business amid broader corporate shifts.

Source: Eurogamer

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