Xbox’s New Leader Highlights Phil Spencer's Defining Moments In Moving Tribute

The leadership at Xbox was shaken up last week, as Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox president Sarah Bond have both left the company. Taking over the Xbox brand are new Xbox president Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty, and the duo has already outlined their plans for the future of Xbox–teasing new hardware announcements and a return to the “roots” of Xbox. At the same time, Sharma has addressed the shoes she’ll be filling, as she thanked Spencer for leading Xbox for over a decade.

“Today Matt and I had the chance to recognize Phil Spencer,” Sharma wrote in a social media post. “Over the past couple of months, we’ve talked nearly every day about everything from hardware and strategy to creators and culture–and plenty about our kids and dogs, too. Those conversations gave me a front row seat to what so many of you have known for decades. Phil is a remarkable leader, but even more than that, he’s a deeply remarkable human being. When he took over Xbox in 2014, it was a pivotal moment. He pushed for backward compatibility because players asked for it. He helped bring Xbox One X to life. He created Game Pass.”

“And through it all, he re-centered our decisions around players and creators. A lot of careers get summed up by milestones. Phil’s impact shows up in stories. In the creators who felt safe taking risks, in the teams who did the best work of their lives because someone believed in them, and in players across generations who felt like Xbox was theirs. I’ll always remember this day. I’m proud to be part of Team Xbox. Now our journey begins.”

Spencer’s number two, Bond, has barely been mentioned since she resigned from the company. A new report has claimed that the former Xbox president was difficult to work with, and it’s claimed that current and former Xbox employees were relieved to hear that she was stepping down from her position.

Spencer’s last day at Microsoft was on February 23, where he’d spent 38 years working. Spencer said that he began planning to leave the company last year, telling Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella that he was considering “stepping back and starting the next chapter” of his life. Sharma and Booty are taking over the company during a tumultuous time following mass layoffs and studio closures. 2026 also looks to be a busy year for Microsoft’s gaming division, as its lineup includes heavy-hitter games Halo: Campaign Evolved, a Fable reboot, and Gears of War: E-Day, as well as several PlayStation ports, work on a next-generation Xbox console, and plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Xbox.

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