Microsoft CEO sees Xbox as "critical audience and category" that's "really important to the company’s future" says Asha Sharma

Asha Sharma says Satya Nadella views Xbox as a “critical audience and category” for Microsoft’s next 10 years, which is a pretty strong signal that the division isn’t being treated as a short-term experiment. Sharma and Matt Booty also said they want Xbox to return to growth next year, with daily active players now the main north star for the division.

For devs, the important part is the direction of travel: Microsoft is still leaning into Game Pass, but also acknowledging pricing pressure and the need for more flexible, affordable hardware and services. Booty’s comments suggest the company is thinking hard about balancing hardcore expectations with easier onboarding and broader accessibility, which usually affects everything from content strategy to monetization and platform support priorities.