Microsoft Xbox's new CEO, Sharma, states: Will re-evaluate exclusive game strategy

IT Home, February 25th: According to Windows Central, after gradually porting a few games from Xbox and Windows PC to the PlayStation platform, with titles like Forza Horizon, Fable, Gears of War, and even the beloved Halo series making their way to competing platforms, the door for Xbox game cross-platform play has been fully opened.

Some players accept this because allowing more players to enjoy quality games is a good thing, which is what gamers are seeking. However, others disagree: then what’s the point of buying an Xbox console?

If all Xbox games are released on other platforms, and competing consoles still have the advantage of exclusive titles, what reason is there to choose Xbox?

This is also why recent personnel changes at Xbox have led many on social media to give advice to the new CEO, Ashra Sharma. Among almost all suggestions, the top one is calling for Xbox to return to making exclusive games. Some even demand the cancellation of cross-platform ports for games like Halo, Fable, and Forza.

Recently, Ashra Sharma told Windows Central reporter Jez Corden that she does not rule out this possibility.

When asked whether she is considering returning to an exclusive game strategy, she said, “Honestly, I need to understand now. Understand the reasons behind those decisions, our initial optimization goals, and how current data feedback impacts Xbox’s current strategy. That’s my genuine thought. I focus on user lifetime value, not just what happened in the past or short-term efficiency. Plans are plans until they are changed.”

IT Home notes that last week, someone on X (formerly Twitter) called for her to return to exclusive games. She responded with “We hear you,” which fans initially thought was just politeness, but it turned out she was serious. The new Xbox CEO explicitly indicated that bringing games back as console exclusives is not impossible.

In recent years, the Xbox ecosystem has faced financial pressures—whether from console price hikes, lack of exclusive titles, Game Pass price increases, or other reasons. Clearly, the current situation is unsustainable. Ashra Sharma may not have extensive gaming industry experience, but her strengths lie in user acquisition and operations.

If Xbox can get back on track and release the highly anticipated exclusive games gamers have been waiting for, it would undoubtedly be good news. But this won’t happen overnight, nor will it start with titles like Halo Remake or Forza Horizon, which are already highly profitable on PlayStation.

First, Ashra needs to familiarize herself with the business. As she mentioned in her latest interview, she plans to visit various development studios. She also needs to commit to “revitalizing Xbox” and the console hardware business, with other decisions gradually falling into place.

Sharma stated, “Xbox players have invested thousands of dollars and hours, and understanding and protecting that investment is crucial to me. I am committed to ‘revitalizing Xbox,’ and it all starts with consoles and hardware. You will hear more soon; we are about to announce related plans. You will see us focusing heavily on this area.”

She also added, “We know many players do not use consoles or our hardware, and I also want to bring quality games to them. I need more time to explore feasible solutions, past decisions, and future directions. I hope to have some time and space to push this forward.”

Investment in hardware seems to be already in planning, while the idea of returning to exclusive games appears to be a new approach brought by the new CEO. Only time will tell whether Xbox and Microsoft believe that reviving the once solid advantage of console exclusives is beneficial for business growth.