Xbox CEO Dismisses Buyout Speculation Amid Major Restructuring
- CEO Asha Sharma denies rumors of an Xbox buyout despite significant layoffs and studio changes.
- Xbox is undergoing a “reset,” planning to cut 3,200 jobs and has seen three studios become independent.
- The company hopes to drive success with upcoming titles and recent partnerships, including a deal with Kojima Productions.
Amid massive layoffs across various first-party studios and significant internal changes, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has refuted speculation regarding a potential buyout of the gaming division.
This year, Xbox initiated a corporate “reset,” which involves laying off a total of 3,200 employees before next summer. The restructuring has led to the independence of three studios: Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Undead Labs, while the futures of Ninja Theory, known for Hellblade, and Arkane, the studio behind Dishonored, remain uncertain.
In a notable development earlier this month, Xbox transferred ownership of the entire Halo series to Activision, along with Rare and World’s Edge, known for Age of Empires. Obsidian Entertainment has been reallocated to Bethesda, leaving only a few developers under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, including The Coalition (Gears of War), Playground Games (Fable, Forza), Mojang (Minecraft), InXile Entertainment (Clockwork Revolution), and the remnants of Halo Studios.
This streamlining appears to some as a strategy to enhance the company’s appeal for potential buyers. However, Sharma firmly stated that a sale is not under consideration. Speaking to The New York Times, she emphasized, “Xbox is not for sale… 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.”
While Sharma’s comments suggest that spinning off Xbox as an independent entity remains a theoretical option, there is currently no indication that such a change is imminent. “We’ve got a long way to go with Microsoft,” she added, “and we’re going to take the long-term view.”
Looking ahead, the company is optimistic about key upcoming titles, such as Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, both aiming to make a significant impact as Xbox console exclusives. Additionally, Sharma has secured a partnership with Kojima Productions for the action-stealth game Physint after PlayStation withdrew its funding from the project.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
