Microsoft’s new Xbox boss comes straight from AI, and her first promise to gamers is the one thing they needed to hear most

Microsoft’s new Xbox boss, Asha Sharma, has just stepped into her role, and her first promise to gamers is probably the most reassuring thing they could hear right now: games will remain “crafted by humans,” not “soulless AI slop.” Sharma takes over as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, marking one of the most significant leadership changes in Xbox history.

This follows the retirement of longtime gaming chief Phil Spencer, who shaped the modern Xbox over decades. Sharma’s appointment comes at a difficult time for Microsoft’s gaming division, with the company seeing a dip in gaming revenue while facing intense competition and rising hardware costs.

What makes her appointment a talking point is her background. She isn’t a traditional gaming executive. According to Digital Trends, before this role, she led product development for Microsoft’s AI services and models, placing her right at the center of the company’s broader artificial intelligence strategy.

Sharma’s AI background sparked real concern, but her early promises show she understands what gamers actually care about

The online reaction to her appointment was mixed. On X and Reddit, many gamers quickly voiced concerns that Microsoft might lean too heavily on AI-generated content. Others wondered if an AI-focused leader signals a shift away from the traditional priorities of game development.

This backlash highlights a growing tension across the entire industry. Game studios are already using AI tools for tasks like testing, localization, creating assets, and handling live service updates. While supporters see these tools as a way to speed up development and cut costs, critics worry about creative quality, job security for human developers, and what some players are calling “AI slop.”

Microsoft’s AI ambitions have also raised eyebrows elsewhere — the company recently came under fire after Microsoft’s Copilot was caught reading confidential emails, adding to existing concerns about how far its AI tools should go.

Sharma appears aware of this skepticism. In her first public messages after taking the role, she emphasized that Microsoft will “take risks” and won’t treat games as static IP to simply monetize. She also promised to avoid flooding the ecosystem with “soulless AI slop,” and stressed that games are, and always will be, art, with AI meant to support creativity rather than replace it.

In follow-up comments on social media, she laid out three core commitments for Xbox: delivering great games, strengthening the Xbox brand, and shaping the future of play. She directly addressed fan concerns about exclusivity and creative direction, stating that she hears the community’s feedback, and posted a simple message saying, “Hear you.”

Separately, Microsoft is also making moves on the subscription side, with reports suggesting the company is weighing a major Game Pass merger deal, though key details remain unclear. Her early promises suggest Microsoft is trying to strike a balance between innovation and creativity, even as the industry continues to debate how far AI should go in game development. The real test, of course, will be the games that follow.