Xbox’s Asha Sharma In New ‘We Are Xbox’ Letter Pledges To Reevaluate Exclusivity & Return The Business To Durable Growth

Just a few months ago, it was reported that 2025 was one of Xbox’s worst years for the platform commercially. However, the handing of the torch from Phil Spencer to Asha Sharma has shown to shine a new light on the platform. Sharma’s commitment to the platform included returning Xbox to its ‘renegade’ image. This was also met with the first teaser for next-generation’s Project Helix Xbox console as well.

Other promises that Sharma has met includes reducing the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This also lowered the pricing for PC Game Pass too. And, backwards compatibility is also becoming a new focus as well later in 2026. According to one report, Microsoft has been adamantly discussing if returning to exclusivity for its titles is a viable decision after already opening the floodgates to multiplatform for more than a year already.

Now on Thursday, Asha Sharma & Matt Booty have issued a letter – We Are Xbox – to employees and consumers. The Xbox Wire post goes into detail on what the platform stands for, what Sharma’s intentions are to shape Xbox for success, and elaborate on what is next on the list for new changes to arrive to the platform. “Xbox will be where the world plays and creates. We will build a global platform that connects players and creators everywhere,” the message reads.

“Console is at the foundation, delivering a premium experience, and cloud brings that experience to any device. You can play where you want, and your games, progress, friends, and identity stay with you across console, PC, mobile, and cloud. […] The experience will adapt to you, letting you customize how you play, helping you find what you’ll love, and connecting you with the right people. And we will be open to all creators, from individuals to the largest studios, giving anyone the tools to reach a global audience and keep their games growing over time.”

In one segemnt, Sharma & Booty’s messaging for Xbox also included that Microsoft “will reevaluate our approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI, and share more as we learn and decide.” This corroborates with the report from Windows Central. Another statement from the letter also disclosed that Xbox will “return the business to durable growth with strong cost discipline.” It plays in part with the decision to sever attachment to Microsoft Gaming.

“To achieve our master plan, the way we work must transform. Our best work happens when the full stack moves together. ‘Microsoft Gaming’ describes our structure but it does not describe our ambition. So, we are going back to where we started and changing our team’s name. […] We have to be honest about where we are. We’re a challenger, and meeting this moment will require pace, energy, and a level of self-critique that should feel uncomfortable.”

According to a recent interview, former Xbox boss Ed Fries disclosed that the approach for Project Helix closely mirrors the effort by his team then for the Original Xbox. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you behind the new messaging for Xbox from Asha Sharma & Matt Booty?

Source: Xbox Wire