Fries weighs in as Sharma takes Xbox helm with a games-first focus
Ed Fries, former head of Microsoft Game Studios, offers a veteran’s take on Xbox’s leadership transition to Asha Sharma and Matt Booty, saying Sharma’s lack of gaming experience isn’t a barrier if the two leaders play to each other’s strengths and keep the focus on great games. He reflects on Xbox’s history, defends maintaining a hardware strategy, and weighs in on AI’s rising role and the importance of Game Pass, while noting the ongoing growth of the global games business and the need to balance innovation with the fundamentals of creating hit franchises.