Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says 'Xbox is not for sale'

gamingSep 30, 202633157

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told the New York Times "Xbox is not for sale," denying reports Microsoft might spin out or sell its gaming division. Her statement follows a June report in The Information that Microsoft was considering restructuring the gaming business as a wholly owned subsidiary, a structure some argued could make a sale easier. Sharma said the team will "look at the right partnerships, the right operating model and everything needed" to set the company up for success. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised Sharma’s "streamlining" of Xbox and on a Sources Podcast said he feels "fantastic" about the studios and IP portfolio while urging invention of a sustainable business model. This year Microsoft enacted sweeping Xbox layoffs, initially affecting 1,600 jobs with another 1,600 planned by the end of the fiscal year, and the company says the second wave is about 75 percent complete. Sharma’s denial closes the immediate sale speculation but leaves open further restructurings and partnership talks as the business pursues a path back to growth.

Mat Piscatella

@matpiscatella.bsky.social

"Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games" is what Asha Sharma posted back in March. The below bit, and what Xbox does about it when it comes to playing PC games on Helix, will be a huge part of the story of the next box and its chances for success, imo.

503h ago

Tom Warren

@tomwarren.co.uk

"Xbox is not for sale," says Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. Microsoft's gaming chief is taking a "long-term view" of the Xbox division, amid rumors CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood were considering selling off Xbox. Full details 👇 www.theverge.com/news/1002736...

363h ago

Jesse Norris7

There were rumors? I saw a lot of speculation.

Simon Gable Lundmark1

let's check back a year from now when they've been Zaslaving for a while. :)

Talan Cid 🏳️‍🌈1

They should sell it. No reason to keep it if they’re just going to inject ads into games.

Quoting this

M.H. Williams23

Well, you aren't until you are. I'm sure she believes that, but I'm also not seeing endless faith from Microsoft about video gaming.

The Sisko2

girl they are playing you lol

Sean Hollister

@seanhollister.bsky.social

Nothing's for sale until it's for sale. Or, in the words of one Asha Sharma: "The plan’s the plan until it’s not the plan.”

123h ago

Andy Robinson

@andyrobinson.bsky.social

According to a New York Times interview, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma "gave her personal cellphone number to journalists and influencers", while her new chief strategy officer "has tutored reporters on the company’s economic challenges".

143h ago

Insider Gaming

@insider-gaming.com

'XBOX Is Not For Sale', Declares XBOX CEO Asha Sharma insider-gaming.com/xbox-not-for...

84h ago

VGC

@videogameschronicle.com

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has denied that the gaming division could be sold by Microsoft, following her 'streamlining' of the business this year. www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-ce...

123h ago

funny-username1.bsky.social4

I mean if Microsoft wants to I'm not sure she gets a say in it

jasonr86.bsky.social2

If it isn’t, shouldn’t the next question be something like “Do you think it’s telling or alarming that people are wondering this?”

Quoting this

Katieee1203

I mean back when they announced all these layoffs and companies, like Ninja Theory, Double Fine & Compulsion Games were too close, you could have fooled me. Felt like Microsoft really wanted to get out of the gaming business. Just felt like they were cleaning house, which they are STILL doing.

Idle Sloth

@idlesloth.bsky.social

Asha Sharma says 'XBOX Is Not For Sale' “We will do whatever it takes to set the company up for success, and we will look at the right partnerships, the right operating model and everything needed to achieve that.” via: nytimes nytimes.com/2026/09/30/ar

73h ago

JaceAVinson📀 #SupportPhysicalMedia

@jaceavinson.bsky.social

Sony being so terrible and Asha Sharma making Xbox so pro-consumer recently has really made me more interested in collecting more Xbox games. I’ve mainly been buying for PlayStation the past few years.

217h ago

Pure Xbox

@purexbox.com

'Xbox Is Not For Sale' - Asha Sharma Issues Confident Statement On The Future Of The Brand

33h ago

News 📰

@some-news.bsky.social

Xbox is already looking very different than it did a year ago

33h ago

Dan Hon

@danhon.com

My "Xbox Is Not For Sale" shirt sure is raising a lot of questions already answered by my shirt

32h ago

Gamekult

@gamekult.com

Portrait très élogieux (jusqu’à la caricature) dans le New York Times : la PDG Asha Sharma réfute les rumeurs d’une revente de Xbox par Microsoft.

3h ago

CriticalPixel

@critpixel.bsky.social

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says Xbox is not for sale, then mentions the right partnerships. Denying a sale is the easy half. https://criticalpixel.gg/articles/xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-tells-the-new-york-times-xbox-is-not-for-sale-but-leaves-the-door-open-on-partnerships #gaming #Xbox #GamingNews

23h ago

GeeZus 🎮

@thegeezus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy

Asha Sharma’s Defining Line in the Sand: “Xbox Is Not For Sale” — And Why This Moment Marks a Milestone in Her Leadership #Gaming #VideoGames #GamesNews 🕹 🎮 https://geezusgg.xyz/2026/09/7802/no-xbox-sale-on-schedule/

2h ago

Wilhelm Arcturus

@wilhelm2451.bsky.social

Basically, Asha Sharma is playing hardball to give XBox a veneer of competence. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/a...

13h ago

3 sources

nytimes.comXbox’s Millennial C.E.O., Asha Sharma, Isn’t Playing Around playday.one‘Xbox is Not For Sale’ Says Xbox CEO Asha Sharma purexbox.com'Xbox Is Not For Sale' - Asha Sharma Issues Confident Statement On The Future Of The Brand

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says 'Xbox is not for sale'gaming Final Fantasy XI removes free trial time limit, raises cap to 75gaming MTG Secret Lair 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' criticized for no legendary creaturesgaming Xbox adds disc-to-digital licensing to Series X and One consolesgaming

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says 'Xbox is not for sale'

Related