In an exclusive story, we reported that Xbox boss and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is retiring and Xbox president Sarah Bond is leaving her position. Consequently, president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product Asha Sharma is taking over as CEO of Xbox with Matt Booty moving up to executive vice president and CCO of Xbox. This shake-up in Xbox leadership was a surprise to many and sent waves across the gaming industry from former Xbox execs to industry veterans alike. We compiled some of the statements made online coming out of the news from key individuals, including what Sarah Bond’s had to say upon leaving the Xbox brand.
Bond went to LinkedIn to give her statement on her departure and the leadership changes at Xbox, sharing the note she sent to colleagues internally:
Sharing with gratitude the note I sent to my team today. Grateful to our players, developers, partners, and team. Forever a fan of Xbox. 💚
—–
Hi team,I know there’s a lot of news to take in today.I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the past eight-plus years. PC and cloud gaming are growing faster than ever, our next console is well underway, and together we’ve helped lay the foundation for a more open gaming platform that spans devices and reaches players around the world.When we announced our intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022, I committed to helping lead Xbox through what would be a critical period of change. Over the past four years, we’ve navigated that moment together and positioned the business for what comes next. We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and did it as one team.With that, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We’re living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m energized by what’s ahead. This moment also presents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter. I’ve had the privilege of spending time with Asha over the last few weeks as we’ve planned for this transition, and I’ve seen firsthand her deep commitment to our players, developers, and brand. She brings deep technology and commerce experience, along with a strong track record of building and scaling platforms that the world uses. Xbox deserves this. I’m excited to see her lead this next chapter for our team. I’ll remain on as a Special Advisor to Asha to help ensure a smooth transition and set the organization up for continued success.I want to thank Phil for his mentorship and friendship over the years. He’s been a consistent champion of this business and the people who make it what it is, and I’ve learned a great deal from the way he leads through both opportunity and challenge. I’m grateful for his trust and support throughout my time on the team. I also want to thank Satya for his sponsorship and support throughout my time at Microsoft.As I prepare to sign off, I’ve been reflecting on three simple questions I’ve tried to use to guide my days:Did I bring my best?
Did I help someone else succeed?
Did I do my best work?I hope the answer has been yes for many of you. It’s been a privilege to work alongside this team.Always,
Sarah
On LinkedIn, Peter Moore, former VP of entertainment at Microsoft and longtime CEO and EVP at Electronic Arts:
News that Phil Spencer has stepped away marks the end of a significant chapter for Microsoft Gaming and in particular Xbox.It is easy, especially in today’s climate, to critique decisions, debate strategy, and judge outcomes with the benefit of hindsight. What is harder is to sustain leadership over decades in an industry that reinvents itself every few years. Of that, I’m only too painfully aware. Phil did that.From the early days of Xbox through console transitions, studio acquisitions, platform wars, and the rise of subscription and cloud, he was a steady presence in what has often been a turbulent environment. Gaming at Microsoft has never been a quiet assignment. Expectations were immense. Competition was relentless. The spotlight was constant.I had the privilege of working alongside him during formative years for the business. What I saw was commitment to players, loyalty to teams, and resilience when the noise was loudest. Phil was,and is, a gamer at heart and that showed in everything he did during my time with him. Leadership in this industry means making imperfect decisions with incomplete information, under extraordinary pressure. It means standing in front when things go wrong, and sharing credit when they go right. That is not easy work.Whatever opinions swirl today (and I see the boo birds are out in flocks) history tends to be kinder and more balanced. Sustained contribution matters. Building institutions matters. Showing up year after year matters. A long career in gaming, particularly at the scale of Microsoft, deserves respect.Wishing Phil good luck for whatever comes next. All the best, mate.
Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president of Nintendo of America:
Congrats @XboxP3 on a fantastic career. The games industry is better because of your contributions. I look forward to celebrating this milestone with you. https://t.co/uJGjlKJJ2c
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) February 20, 2026
Greg Canessa, former GM and creator of the Xbox Live Arcade:
Congratulations @XboxP3 on an amazing run leading @Xbox. I have nothing but respect and admiration for what you accomplished, and the industry is better off for you having been in it.
— Greg Canessa (@gregcanessa) February 21, 2026
Jason Ronald, VP of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, leader on development of the Xbox Series X and S:
Many emotions today, but more than anything I feel incredible gratitude for the years I have spent with both @XboxP3 and @BondSarah_Bond.
Phil and Sarah’s impact on the team, the community and me personally are immeasurable. Thank you both for everything you have done for @Xbox. https://t.co/00eeIubq1V
— Jason Ronald (@jronald) February 20, 2026
Sean Murray, director at Hello Games, developers behind No Man’s Sky:
🫡 https://t.co/pD5IhojR7N
— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) February 21, 2026
Larry Hryb, widely known as Major Nelson, former principal program manager and senior director of communications for Xbox:
Hey @XboxP3 I am not texting you now….as I know your phone is blowing up like mine. Let’s chat when you come up for air.
— Larry Hryb, Gamer Emeritus 📱⌨️🖱️🎮 (@majornelson) February 20, 2026
An end of an era indeed. https://t.co/inQTwhOKB7
— Larry Hryb, Gamer Emeritus 📱⌨️🖱️🎮 (@majornelson) February 20, 2026
Phil Spencer himself reflected on the 38 years he spent working at Microsoft as well and we broke down his statement in a separate story. He oversaw initiatives such as Xbox Game Pass, the launches of the Xbox One X and the Xbox Series consoles, and several acquisitions of development teams such as Bethesda Game Studios, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, Obsidian Entertainment, and more as well as the industry-shaking $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King. We also looked at new Xbox head Asha Sharma’s statement about her vision for the platform and her thoughts on AI moving forward.
Be sure to check out our discussions on the possible impact the leadership changes will have on the Xbox platform and our breakdown of the news on IGN’s Daily Fix. And catch our weekly Xbox podcast Unlocked where we’ve analyzed what a next-gen Xbox looks like and keep up with the year’s biggest games.
