Xbox gamers not happy with new Microsoft Gaming CEO: Here’s why

If you’ve been following the gaming world for the past few weeks, then I’m sure you must have heard about the sudden shakeup that has occurred in the Xbox leadership department. Fan favourite Phil Spencer, who has been leading the charge of the company since 2014, recently announced that he’s stepping down as the leader of Xbox and the CEO of Microsoft Gaming. 

Logically speaking, Spencer’s departure was not much of a surprise, given that he’s close to entering his 60s, and that’s usually the age when most executives in the business decide to retire. But what has got fans worried involves the steps that have been taken after. 

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Right after Spencer’s retirement post, Xbox announced that they would be appointing an Indian-origin woman, Asha Sharma, as the Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to say that there’s something wrong with that; in fact, it’s so nice to see a woman entering into a field that is mostly dominated by males. 

But the bigger issue that remains involves Asha’s background, and that is her gaming-specific background. Not only does she not have any prior experience working with video game companies, but being heavily involved with AI is something that is troubling fans. Let’s discuss in brief what is happening with Xbox and the reactions by the community. 

The love for Phil Spencer by the Xbox community

The general sentiment towards this change being perceived as a negative is mostly because of the love for Phil Spencer by the Xbox community. Back in 2014, when Spencer was appointed to lead the charge of Xbox, it was a sinking ship. Under the leadership of Don Mattrick, the company wasn’t doing very well. 

The launch of Xbox One was a big blunder, and the community were slowly losing their hopes with the brand. But by bringing Spencer on board, it really changed the way for Xbox moving forward. Not only did he listen to the community, but he also brought some major changes that were required in order to keep sailing the ship. 

While the Xbox One may not have been a success, per se, it helped revive the once-lost community. Things like the launch of Game Pass were major leaps forward, and even the launch of the Xbox Series X|S would not have been possible if it weren’t for Phil Spencer. 

Given all this, Spencer was loved by the fans. More than an executive running behind just profits, the community thought of him as a person who cared about the gamers. He was a gamer at heart; moments like interacting with the community regularly, playing games with them and even chatting with them on Xbox were things that made him a very likeable person. 

The ‘non-gamer’ background of the new CEO

On one hand, we have someone like Phil Spencer, a person who carries a ‘gaming background’ and someone who has been involved in the industry for so long that people automatically trust him. But on the other side sits Asha, who, let’s just say, isn’t really well-versed with gaming. No point in sugarcoating, but she does not seem to have any experience at all with working at video gaming companies. 

While that’s not much of an issue, as the role of an executive is much larger, the fanbase is not very happy about it. Many have questioned the decision and are calling it an odd decision by Microsoft. As per them, there were several other people in the company who could have been promoted, but bringing in a completely new person with no gaming background raises questions about the company’s future. 

The other side of the argument also involves the fact that Microsoft is actively trying to win the trust of gamers by suggesting that Asha is indeed a gamer. It is pretty obvious that the whole X account shenanigans is a big PR stunt, trying to make her look like someone who enjoys gaming, but in reality, that may or may not be the case.

Another important thing that many have pointed out, and that is actively worrying fans, is Asha’s background with AI. Many worry that the chances of Xbox leaning heavily into AI are high, given how pushy Microsoft has been on Copilot. While Asha assured that she would like to keep “AI slop” out of Xbox, there is still a part of the crowd that believes that it may not turn out to be true. 

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