"That's exactly what Xbox needs": Former Meta colleague of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says her non-gaming background doesn't matter because she has "the spine to push hard calls through"

One of the biggest leadership shifts Microsoft and Xbox have seen in recent years came two months ago in February, with Phil Spencer stepping down as Microsoft Gaming CEO and CoreAI Product president Asha Sharma succeeding him as head of Xbox.

Initially, many reacted negatively to her appointment to the position, with widespread fears that she wouldn't know how to steer Xbox in the right direction given her distinctly non-gaming background working with CoreAI and leading Meta's Messenger team. Since then, however, Xbox Achievements have been upgraded and other sweeping improvements have come too, culminating in a huge Xbox Game Pass price drop last week.

It's almost suspicious how fast beneficial changes are coming, and as a result of the swift steps in the right direction, many have begun to change their minds about Sharma — especially after she shared a huge manifesto for Xbox's future last week in which she confidently asserted that "Xbox will be where the world plays," and detailed her plan to reach that aspirational goal with the brand.

Notably, in the midst of this strong start for Sharma's tenure, one of her former colleagues has sung her praises on social media, asserting that despite her lack of a gaming background, she's "exactly what Xbox needs."

"I worked with [Asha Sharma] at Messenger. The 'no gaming background' takes are missing it," argues Jean-Marc Denis, Meta's AI design director and former Messenger design director. "What she does have: real curiosity, an absurd amount of drive, and the spine to push hard calls through. That's exactly what Xbox needs. Last week's announcements aren't the ceiling — they're the floor."

Denis then went on to say that "You don't need to have lived every gaming era to greenlight the next big IP," just the "instinct" to bring those who have into your circle, and the drive to give them the space and opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.

"You don't need to have lived every gaming era to greenlight the next big IP — you need the instinct to surround yourself with the people who did, and the executive muscle to clear their path," he said. "Xbox has the talent. What it's been missing is someone who can actually unstick it."

His comments echo those of former Xbox vice president Ed Fries, who said her business-oriented background "can work fine" because Matt Booty, who was promoted to Xbox's chief content officer, can work with Sharma with everything gaming related. Fries then went on to say her drive and fresh pair of eyes on things gives her an "edge."

It's also a sentiment shared by Windows Central's executive editor and Xbox expert Jez Corden, who wrote that Sharma's experience building social systems and platforms Xbox finds itself in competition with will greatly help to shore up some of the brand's largest weaknesses.

Speaking as someone who was initially worried about Sharma and what she would bring to Microsoft's gaming brand myself, I have to say that the major improvements she's made thus far have given me a lot of optimism that she'll lead Xbox into a bright future. Only time will tell, of course, but I have hope — especially with the ambitious console-PC hybrid system Project Helix on the horizon.

How do you feel about Asha Sharma leading Xbox, and how she's done so far? Let me know in the comments below, and also vote in our poll.

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