Xbox CEO Officially Responds to Xbox Sale Rumors

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma responds to reports that Microsoft will spin off the gaming division amid layoffs, game cancellations, and Game Pass changes.

The short version

• The company has slimmed down its portfolio this year, divesting from four studios and canceling projects.
• "We’ve got a long way to go with Microsoft," Sharma told the Times, "and we’re going to take the long-term view." In response to reports that Microsoft may spin off or sell the Xbox brand , Sharma is adamant.
• "Xbox is not for sale," Sharma said.

What happened

In the Times' profile, the agreement with Kojima Productions — after Sony dropped its game — "was substantially below what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game" and includes TV and film rights to the Physint IP. While Sharma and company appear to have some runway to figure out the right operating model for Xbox, there are still hundreds of additional layoffs planned at the company and the impending launch of Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox.

Why it matters

Whatever plan the Xbox group has now could change at any time.

Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Polygon via the links above and below.