“Grim prognosis”: Former PlayStation CEO questions Game Pass as new Xbox CEO would "love to chat."

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Former PlayStation CEO questions Xbox’s Game Pass direction, while Asha Sharma responds directly, opening the door to a wider discussion about the service’s long-term future.

Asha Sharma, wearing a green jacket, leans on a wooden table and smiles warmly. She has long dark hair and is in a modern office with a relaxed, welcoming vibe.
Xbox chief Asha Sharma has reached out to the former PlayStation CEO. (Image credit: Microsoft)

In a post on LinkedIn, Joost van Dreunen, who analyzes the video game industry, discussed a leaked memo obtained by The Verge, in which Asha Sharma said Game Pass had become too expensive.

In response, former PlayStation CEO, Shawn Layden, shared some strong thoughts on LinkedIn, describing the situation as unfavorable and grim.

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They are trying so hard to will this into health, despite unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis. A clarifying postmortem would do the entire industry some good.

Shawn Layden - Former PlayStation CEO

Usually, posts like this come and go without much follow-up. You would not expect Xbox’s new CEO to step in publicly. But she has.

Responding directly, Sharma signaled she is open to a conversation with Layden, writing simply:

“I would love to chat sometime."

Sharma has been doing a pretty impressive job so far, if I do say so myself.

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She has been highly responsive, even setting up a dedicated team focused on long-requested Xbox features. That team is also actively seeking input from fans on what they would like to see.

She also recently responded to a fan on X (formerly Twitter) after an Xbox Insider update reportedly bricked their Xbox Series S.

It is refreshing to see this level of engagement, and hopefully any conversations she has with Layden are productive, offering a fresh perspective and insight for both.

Personally, I’m hoping a chat between the two is constructive. Sharma appears to be looking across all of Xbox to see what can be changed or improved.

Getting more users into Game Pass also seems to be near the top of her list. There have been talks between Netflix and Xbox, alongside new codenames like TRITON and Duet appearing.

These could point to a new Game Pass tier focused on first-party Xbox games, with the possibility of Netflix integration and cloud play time limits.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you feel about a conversation between Sharma and Layden? Or do you not care at all? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Adam Hales
Adam Hales
Contributor

Adam is a Psychology Master’s graduate passionate about gaming, community building, and digital engagement. A lifelong Xbox fan since 2001, he started with Halo: Combat Evolved and remains an avid achievement hunter. Over the years, he has engaged with several Discord communities, helping them get established and grow. Gaming has always been more than a hobby for Adam—it’s where he’s met many friends, taken on new challenges, and connected with communities that share his passion.

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