Asha Sharma Says Xbox Needs New Gaming Franchises to Survive

Relying endlessly on legacy franchises and exploiting nostalgia will not work.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that Microsoft will continue to develop new gaming franchises despite massive layoffs and a strategic focus on strengthening established brands. According to her, the company cannot rely exclusively on older series and must find the courage to create new projects capable of attracting a fresh audience.

Sharma shared this during an internal Xbox Town Hall meeting held last week. She confirmed that the company intends to focus on its most successful franchises, while emphasizing the importance of creating new intellectual property.

We support our strongest franchises. I want our great games to turn into global, billion-dollar brands. But I would also like us to continue creating new intellectual property designed for long-term development. We will not survive if we only return to past successes. We need to find new approaches and show courage by creating new franchises capable of attracting a new audience.

Asha Sharma, Xbox.

During the meeting, Sharma also touched upon the development of mobile and casual gaming, specifically the King business. She noted that the company retains opportunities for growth in this segment despite intensifying competition. In recent years, games such as Monopoly Go and Block Blast have drawn away a portion of the audience from Candy Crush.

Related articles