Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Says Xbox Is Not For Sale Despite Restructuring

Microsoft’s Xbox division is not going anywhere, according to its new CEO Asha Sharma. She recently told The New York Times that the company has no plans to sell Xbox, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.

Back in June, a report from The Information said Microsoft’s top bosses, CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood, were weighing options like turning Xbox into a separate company or a joint venture. Such a move could have made it easier for Microsoft to sell Xbox in the future. But Sharma has now made it clear that Xbox is staying put.

“Xbox is not for sale,” Sharma said. She added that Microsoft will explore partnerships and the best ways to run the business to help Xbox succeed in the long run.

Sharma took over as Xbox CEO earlier this year and has been leading a major overhaul. This includes cutting down staff and focusing more on Xbox’s biggest game franchises. Microsoft plans to cut up to 3,200 jobs in Xbox during its 2027 financial year, with about half already done.

Satya Nadella has shown support for Sharma’s changes. In a recent podcast, he called the streamlining effort “great to see” and talked about the need for a sustainable business model that reaches more gamers.

The restructuring also involves shifting some game studios under big franchises like Halo and consolidating teams to focus on what works best. While Microsoft is making these changes, it seems the goal is to bring Xbox back to growth, not to sell it off.

Sharma emphasised that Xbox is taking a long-term view, aiming to build on its strong game lineup and find new ways for people to play. She acknowledged the journey won’t be simple but insisted Microsoft is committed to Xbox’s future.