Thomas Marnella | Social Media Editor
March 3, 2026
As of this past Friday, Xbox–a globally popular console company–installed a new CEO for the first time since 2014 and, to be quite frank, people are concerned. Asha Sharma, the CEO in question, was most recently employed as the president of the CoreAI division at Microsoft. Internet researchers almost immediately discovered that she has zero experience in managing gaming or anything remotely gaming-adjacent. With no video game history and an AI-ridden background, Xbox fans have found it easy to believe Seamus Blackely, co-founder of Xbox, was right when he recently alleged that under this new leadership, Xbox would be “sunset.” Tech fans and gamers alike worry about what the future of Xbox looks like and whether their games, points, and data will just disappear.
Microsoft, the parent company of Xbox, along with most technology companies have begun to adopt and integrate AI into their systems. One main expansion is the development of a Chat-GPT rival, Microsoft Copilot. According to Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, “[they] are only at the beginning phases of AI diffusion and already Microsoft has built an AI business that is larger than some of [their] biggest franchises.
” With the apparent success of Microsoft’s AI endeavors, there is little reason to maintain less profitable sectors, like Xbox. Consequently, it would not be absurd to hypothesize that Asha Sharma, who has an AI dense background and was appointed CEO to revive Xbox, and make it as profitable as their artificial intelligence branch.
Asha Sharma, the new CEO, has undeniable tech experience. From working at Meta, the COO at Instacart, and recently the president of Microsoft’s CoreAI division, she has proficient management skills. However, Xbox users and fans feel that she is unprepared for the gaming sector. Furthermore, red flags have been raised about how much AI will be integrated in the console. Sharma has stated that there is “no pressure from Microsoft” to use AI, and she has promised to not push “AI slop.” This reassurance has been helpful for many, but others are still skeptical of her expertise. However, when the ex-CEO Seamus Blackely, claimed a gradual shutdown of the company would occur, Xbox fans started to panic.
Internet users and students alike have begun to believe this statement. Mykah Shalvoy, a sophomore at SCHS, worried about her Xbox services: “their cloud gaming service is the only way I am able to play certain games with my friends, and I am just hoping that Xbox stays around ’till GTA VI.” Gaby Aguilar stated, “I do not know what will happen to my accounts and progress. I have been playing for so long.” Xbox fans rely on the many different services that Xbox offers, and this alleged shutdown would be detrimental.
From concerns about her experience in the gaming industry, her AI history and integration into Xbox, and the alleged “sunset” that would happen under her leadership, people are terrified for the future of Xbox under CEO Asha Sharma.
Leave a Reply