Asha Sharma Says, “Xbox Is Not for Sale,” Denies Reports Claiming Microsoft Plans to Sell It

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has directly addressed one of the hot questions surrounding Microsoft’s gaming business by saying “Xbox is not for sale” in a new interview with The New York Times. Sharma said Microsoft is instead focused on restructuring the business, finding the right operating model and putting Xbox on a path toward long-term growth.

Asha Sharma says Xbox is staying with Microsoft

The statement comes after months of speculation triggered by a report published by The Information in June, which claimed that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood were planning to spin off or sell its gaming business. However, The Information changed course as its latest reporting suggests that the executives are apparently supporting Sharma’s restructuring plan instead.

In the interview, Sharma then explains that Microsoft is willing to make major changes to ensure the gaming business succeeds. “We will do whatever it takes to set the company up for success, and we will look at the right partnerships, the right operating model and everything needed to achieve that,” Sharma says.

That wording leaves room for Microsoft to change how Xbox operates, but Sharma’s direct answer is that the business isn’t up for sale. Sharma also told the Times that Microsoft and Xbox still have “a long way to go” and that she is taking a long-term view of the business.

Xbox reset is ongoing

The comments come after one of the biggest restructurings in Xbox’s history. Sharma announced plans in June to cut approximately 3,200 jobs while also changing how several studios and franchises are organized. More recently, Xbox confirmed 260 job cuts and reorganization of multiple studios. As a result, Playground Games and Turn 10 have been merged into one studio, while the next Halo game is now being developed by an Activision-led team. That’s not all; Xbox had also announced that Bethesda expands to include Obsidian.