Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, held an internal town hall with employees today where she announced that Microsoft is returning to using 'Xbox' for its gaming division, scrapping 'Microsoft Gaming'. The move is part of her promise to put Xbox fans first and correct previous strategic mistakes.
The decision comes just days after Sharma announced a price cut for Xbox Game Pass and teased a mysterious partnership with Discord. She noted that 'Xbox needs to be our identity', referencing the original departure from using 'Microsoft Gaming' when Phil Spencer was promoted as CEO in 2022.
Sharma's reversal on adding future Call of Duty titles to Xbox Game Pass, which sparked fierce debate inside Microsoft, is also part of her efforts to correct previous mistakes. A new Xbox logo has started appearing on Microsoft's campus, featuring a more three-dimensional design with glass effects.
The move is seen as a step towards the 'return of Xbox', with Sharma emphasizing great games and the future of play in her internal memo to employees earlier this year.