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[popeutlal]

When Asha Sharma fails, here's the next Xbox head:

 

[mckmas8808]

What does she mean by "Return of Xbox"? Where did it go and when does she think Xbox left?

 

[RaZoR No1]

So Xbox is no more?

 

[OverHeat]

Would!

 

[Magic-DEI-Hire]

This letter reads as if she got screwed over by Satya and was obligated to include him briefly at the end so she gets her severance package.

 

[Musashipan]

Rip Xbox

 

[Kacho]

2/ Return of @Xbox

 

[mckmas8808]

Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer systematically killed Xbox with their terrible decisions. You would think their removal is a good thing. But replacing them with
>a woman
>with no gaming experience
>an AI exec
>an Indian

Holy cooked
Nadella is cancer

Would it been better if she's was white?

 

[AlexAleste]

I get the sense Bond never got the chance to make any decisions. Nadella probably kept a leash on her after quieting Phil. (Never seeing him promote the brand anymore). It could be she became frustrated and left (if not let go). As I mentioned before she has inroads at many corporations it seems and could go anywhere where she could make a difference. Pure speculation on my part, however.

Final decisions were not made by her, but she strongly influenced Phil. And as far as is known, it was her initiative to put a heavy focus on Game Pass, which completely killed Xbox as a platform.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

What does she mean by that? She said they are going to be on many devices so nothing changes, the console is still devalued.

 

[FalconPunch]

Would it been better if she's was white?

I think the poster is calling out perceived nepotism.

 

[Kacho]

What does she mean by that? She said they going to be on many devices so nothing changes, the console is still devalued.

It means literally nothing. It's all lip service just like her comment about AI slop. It's all "how do you do, fellow gamers."

 

[mckmas8808]

I think the poster is calling out perceived nepotism.

Is she related to Sataya?

 

[PauloRoberto]

God first statements from her are a disaster of sincerity... if the admits there are AI slop... she is part of the problem, gioven her last experience.
If her focs is the retunr of xbox, she admits the current situation is not good, and some zealots here will throw a tantrum

 

[AlexAleste]

Would it been better if she's was white?

Right now it's something like 2/10, if she were European it would be 3/10. Slightly better, slightly more chances for adequacy. As you can see, not much better.

 

[mayham2199]

lol she also said Xbox is everywhere. Xbox does not mean just the console to them anymore.

 

[wolffy66]

So you need a head of gaming. You think who's the best person for our vision? Then you think who would inspire confidence in the product.

If that a person from marketing, that says something about how important the messaging is. If you hire someone from AI, thats says something about AI's importance.

And they had to know that a hire from someone with an AI background would get people worried. But they obviously thought it was worth the blowback.

 

[AlexAleste]

What does she mean by "Return of Xbox"? Where did it go and when does she think Xbox left?

If you somehow missed it, Xbox is dead.

 

[Arsic]

 

[FalconPunch]

Is she related to Sataya?

Nope but there's a very clear pattern. You can brand it "cultural nepotism" or cronyism.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

"To the Return of Xbox"... I wonder if that was the last thing Phil Spencer gave to the PR team… because it doesn't make any good damn sense.

 

[IntentionalPun]

What does she mean by "Return of Xbox"? Where did it go and when does she think Xbox left?

Honestly think she might be hinting Microsoft will actually make a traditional console for next-gen and not just a PC which was rumored to be their plan.

Believing anything she says is another thing though.

edit: It's one of the "bullet points" if you will from her message too:

Second, the return of Xbox.

We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world.

We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console which has shaped who we are. It connects us to the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and to the developers who build ambitious experiences for it.

 

[KanKamAndNob]

Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer systematically killed Xbox with their terrible decisions. You would think their removal is a good thing. But replacing them with
>a woman
>with no gaming experience
>an AI exec
>an Indian

Holy cooked
Nadella is cancer

They already lost me at point 1 and 2. 3 and 4 is just overkill.

 

[Windom Earle]

They talk about how incredibly proud they are but just look at the state the brand is in especially as a console?

I think one could do some reading between the lines but you are right. These dishonest corporate emails are absolute cancer.

 

[Come On Tars]

Imagine being put as head of Xbox. Everything is so bloated, slow, weak. You want to turn it around, what do you even do. I mean I would quickly make it about games. Re announce perfect dark. Make a bunch of little trailers for games like banjo, idk.

everything takes YEARS to make, do you end gamepass?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

if someone wants to listen to banger songs about Xbox, about Phil Spencer...the GOAT.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Honestly think she might be hinting Microsoft will actually make a traditional console for next-gen and not just a PC which was rumored to be their plan.

Believing anything she says is another thing though.

I would like that to happen but there is probably more chance of me hosting this years Game Awards

 

[saintjules]

This letter reads as if she got screwed over by Satya and was obligated to include him briefly at the end so she gets her severance package.

Yeah I agree. I have the feeling that her and Phil were told either to resign, retire or get terminated. Or something. No way they both leave at the same time like that.

 

[Deerock71]

"Retiring."

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

do you end gamepass?

Without Phil, they just could axe GP overnight.

 

[Sorcerer]

Final decisions were not made by her, but she strongly influenced Phil. And as far as is known, it was her initiative to put a heavy focus on Game Pass, which completely killed Xbox as a platform.

You would think Phil was influencing her as the apprentice and not the other way around. If Bond had strong influence over Phil, and that is what happened then that is very, very, strange and you can see why Xbox was falling apart.
I did not even realize Bond was at Xbox in 2017.

 

[Ozzie666]

I'd be curious to know the stupid amount Phil's retirement package was. We all see him as a clown who destroyed xbox for the most part. But I bet internally he and Bond were both viewed as good soldiers willing to die on their swords. Unlike developers who get laid off, this guy will walk away with bags of cash and shares.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

if someone wants to listen to banger songs about Xbox, about Phil Spencer...the GOAT.

I like Jez but hes too loud now and repetitive with the soundboards, it gets annoying. His earlier stuff a few years ago about Xbox is by far the best , he called a lot of stuff out back then and wasn't as loud and inconsiderate to the listener with the soundboards and volume levels .

 

[Jesb]

Such a weird way to go suddenly like that at the same time. They didn't even pretend they weren't fired.

 

[Radical_3d]

I think this is the second time in twelve months where these idiots at MS don't let bad Sony news to rest for a couple of days and give them the time to let sink in with the public. Nobody at the wheel nowhere.

- Sir, as for this weekend Sony is the most despised company out there.
– Hold my macchiato.

I knew it!! Ok, it was a little more than 12 months but anyways… Anybody remember what Sony did before the weekend of the 4th and 5th of May of 2024? Was probably announced the Friday 3rd, that is when companies love to give bad news.

Edit: ah, found it! It was the mandatory PSN login for Helldivers on PC. MS surely knows how to steal the thunder.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

I think one could do some reading between the lines but you are right. These dishonest corporate emails are absolute cancer.

The media is acting just as bad

"Incredible career"
"Incredible legacy "

Being gaslighted all over again

 

[wolffy66]

Bond said they have been working on this transition for a couple of weeks.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Would it been better if she's was white?

Fresh ideas are all that should matter but when promotions (at one time) happened within Xbox they gave scores based on other factors and being a white male you started at zero points

Its why some white males in higher up positions found other jobs as they knew they would never get any further up and other people would pass them based on factors that shouldn't matter

 

[Tobimacoss]

"We will break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise." ~Asha Sharma

That sounds a lot like, MS is about to do forced full unification of PC and Console SKUs. No more need for Play Anywhere, if every game has universal license.

 

[Team Skoda]

So the next Xbox will likely be called Xbox Azure then? Lol

 

[wolffy66]

There is way too much money invested and too much revenue being brought in to shut it all down. I think this signals a heck of a lot of changes on the way though. The big question on everyone's mind is what does this mean for hardware.

All bet's are off as far as I'm concerned.

They could recover a lot of the money from selling off assets.

 

[Deerock71]

The media is acting just as bad

"Incredible career"
"Incredible legacy "

Being gaslighted all over again

These are both true. An incredible legacy is open to interpretation.

 

[Dorfdad]

Uhh, holy shit. This seems like a forced decision considering he's out by next Monday. Phil seemed like he had good intentions but just executed things poorly. Not sure who Asha Sharma is but hopefully they get Xbox back to where it should be.

Watched the video from IGn and it seems has ZERO gaming background. She mentioned they will find new revunue streams and not partake in AI slop, and are recommitting to XBOX brand starting with console.
Sound like they are shifting directions once AGAIN. They refuse to sit and see anything through. Im glad they can adapt and move on and try things, but this sounds like a train wreck that will end the gaming division. Sarah retiring also says somethings up. They may be shifting away from what her vision was / is for XBOX and she wanted to no part of it as it would ruin her career.

 

[yogaflame]

Finally. Please Hermen retire and follow Phil into Cancun.

 

[Jesb]

Why didn't they hire outside the company. Why someone with zero experience running game divisions.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

There is way too much money invested and too much revenue being brought in to shut it all down. I think this signals a heck of a lot of changes on the way though. The big question on everyone's mind is what does this mean for hardware.

All bet's are off as far as I'm concerned.

No idea either what it means for hardware

Possibly why the massive change, maybe some major disagreements about how to move forward

 

[saintjules]

 

[wolffy66]

Would!

That quote doesn't really sound like a resounding appreciation for the direction Xbox has taken.

 

[Humdinger]

I'm glad Bond is out. She was just another corpo-speak bullshitter. Not sure why some people are mourning her departure.

As for the new face of Xbox - I doubt she has any real understanding of gaming or the gaming business. She's uttering the correct phrases to reassure everyone that "all is well, trust me," but I don't think she'll be anything more than a puppet of larger forces within MS.

Bye, Phil. Thanks for all your hard work in destroying Xbox.

 

[Arsic]

It'll finally show if Phil is as big of a blame as the internet had him pegged for.

Once he said "us just making great games isn't going to fix Xbox…" I was completely off board with him and the brand.

If part 1 of the new regime plan is great games - then it'll either be proof he was wrong or is right.

Interested to see where Xbox goes from here. More glass half full from me personally now that he's out.

See Sony? Now kick Herman out too.