Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, firmly states that "Xbox is not for sale"

The head of Xbox, Asha Sharma, has dismissed rumors that Microsoft might separate its gaming unit, asserting to the New York Times that "Xbox is not for sale."

Sharma emphasized their commitment to ensuring success by exploring suitable collaborations and strategies, saying, "We will do whatever it takes to set the company up for success."

This refutation comes amidst rumors that Xbox might branch out independently yet maintain ties with Microsoft through a partnership instead of being on its financial records.

According to the New York Times, Xbox represents roughly 6% of Microsoft's overall earnings.

Having taken the helm at Xbox in February with no previous gaming sector background, Sharma was formerly the leader of Microsoft's CoreAI division and served as COO at Instacart.

Her leadership has been marked by significant reductions: this past summer, Xbox reduced its workforce by 20% and either closed or divested five studios, as described by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella who has lauded the "streamlining" as moving toward a "sustainable business model" for Xbox.

Ongoing adjustments include Microsoft relocating Rare and the Halo series to Activision, suggesting the shutdown of Ninja Theory, and eliminating an additional 268 positions recently.

Game Pass hasn't reached its goals either: subscriptions hit 34 million before declining, and Microsoft is pulling back on offering new Call of Duty releases on the service immediately, fearing it might reduce sales. However, Sharma notes that Xbox still garners 500 million monthly users and is eyeing expansion into Africa, Latin America, and South Asia through cloud gaming innovations.