"Xbox will be where the world plays": Microsoft confirms Xbox is once again looking into acquisitions, huge manifesto for the future detailed

Two months after the new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stepped up as Phil Spencer retired, she's taken some time to reflect on the current state of Microsoft's gaming brand alongside Xbox EVP and chief content officer Matt Booty while also detailing plans for the future. The memo they penned was first sent to Xbox staff globally, and has now been published publicly on Xbox Wire.

One huge piece of news from the letter is that Microsoft is dropping "Microsoft Gaming" completely, and is fully embracing the Xbox branding. Sharma and Booty say the old title "describes our structure but it does not describe our ambition," so "we are going back to where we started."

Alongside that change in team name, though, comes a plan to ensure that "Xbox will be where the world plays." Sharma says that "We will build a global platform that connects players and creators everywhere," and that "Console is at the foundation, delivering a premium experience, and cloud [Xbox Cloud Gaming] brings that experience to any device."

"Xbox will be built to be affordable, personal, and open. We will offer flexible pricing so it’s easy to get started and keep playing. The experience will adapt to you, letting you customize how you play, helping you find what you’ll love, and connecting you with the right people," she continued. "And we will be open to all creators, from individuals to the largest studios, giving anyone the tools to reach a global audience and keep their games growing over time."

Xbox's new guiding "north star" will be daily active players and the goal of growing that number, and it plans to do so through focusing on four priorities: hardware, content, experience, and services.

For hardware, Microsoft wants the upcoming console-PC hybrid system Project Helix, the next big Xbox device, to deliver leading performance. It also aims to lead in the accessories market, and "Build a strong ecosystem that expands choice and reach."

In terms of content, the goal is to "Grow and extend an enduring portfolio of franchises players love," expand into China and other emerging markets, grow strong live-service games, and "Elevate creator-centric platforms like Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, and Sea of Thieves."

Microsoft also plans to elevate the Xbox experience with new enhancements and a renewed focus on customization and social features, and for its services, it wants to "Fortify Game Pass with clear differentiation and sustainable economics," promote "durable growth," and "Make cloud play feel native, fast, and reliable across TVs and low-cost devices."

Notably, there's one bullet point in particular that shot my eyebrows up: "Use M&A deliberately to accelerate growth where organic paths are too slow." This reveals Microsoft is once again interested in potential mergers and acquisitions for Xbox, which we haven't seen since it acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023 after a lengthy saga of legal disputes with the FTC.

Ultimately, it's a strong vision for Xbox moving forward, and one I have high hopes Microsoft can achieve with Sharma and Booty's leadership — especially since we've already seen an overhaul to Achievements, other major improvements, and a big Game Pass price cut come soon after she assumed her position. Here's hoping the future is bright.

How do you feel about Asha Sharma and Matt Booty's plan for the future of Xbox? Share your thoughts in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.

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