Xbox Another couple of team members have seen their departure from the company. The departures come amid several leadership changes at Xbox in recent months, abruptly changing the landscape and future vision of Microsoft's gaming division.
Microsoft's Xbox brand is experiencing the end of an era as the company experiences several personnel changes. Phil Spencer, who joined Microsoft in 1988 and served 12 years as CEO of Xbox, announced his sudden departure from the company in February 2026. The move signaled a major shift in the brand's identity, which Spencer had helped define since the launch of the original Xbox console. Spencer was quickly followed by Xbox president Sarah Bond, who was expected to replace Spencer following her departure. Instead, the role went to former Meta vice president Asha Sharma, who vowed to return Xbox to its former glory.
Microsoft releases statement on potential layoffs following major Xbox leadership change
A key figure in Microsoft leadership shares an official comment on the possibility of layoffs following Xbox executive changes.
Xbox leadership experiences two more senior departures
More leadership changes have come at Xbox, as the company has seen two additional senior staff members leave the company. Lori Wright, who served as corporate vice president at the company, and Haiyan Zhang, who took on the role of general manager of gaming AI, announced their respective departures from the Xbox team, with changes occurring each week. Wright, who announced his departure via his LinkedIn page, referred to his time at Microsoft as the “adventure of a lifetime.” Wright has worked at Microsoft since 2017 and began her role as VP of Xbox Business Development in October 2019. Zhang also took to her personal LinkedIn to reveal her exit, describing the departure as “the most difficult decision”. [her] Life.” Zhang started at Microsoft in 2013, moving into her most recent role as head of gaming AI in 2022.
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The two recent departures come after CEO Asha Sharma promised sweeping changes to the Xbox brand, with the newly appointed Xbox leader acknowledging fans' desire for exclusive games. Sharma has tried to calm fears about the infusion of AI into Xbox's future, given her own professional background with disruptive technology. Sharma used social media to stay in direct communication with fans, even broadcasting her own Xbox gamertag to allow fans to check her gaming history.
The sweeping changes in leadership over the last few months will undoubtedly lead to a new overall vision for Xbox, as Microsoft moves toward the next era of the brand. With new information about Xbox's next console being revealed at 2026's GDC Festival of Gaming, the company has its sights set firmly on the future. The release of the console, currently codenamed Project Helix, may still be some time away, but Microsoft's open acknowledgment of its existence is sure to reassure fans and shareholders that they are confident in the longevity of the Xbox brand.
While Microsoft continues to push ideas and conversations toward the future of the Xbox, some have less optimistic views of the company's gaming division leadership. The former Xbox co-founders have also expressed doubts about the company's future, though any and all thoughts on the matter are speculative. Xbox's sudden departures seem to continue, with the last two exits sure to spark similar conversations about Microsoft quietly pulling resources back from its gaming division, but the imminent launch of a brand new console could help ease such fears. Only time will tell what the impact of Xbox's latest changes will be.
Source: Eurogamer
