Two months after the new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stepped up as Phil Spencer retired, she's taken some time to reflect on the current state of Microsoft's gaming brand alongside Xbox EVP and chief content officer Matt Booty while also detailing plans for the future. The memo they penned was first sent to Xbox staff globally, and has now been published publicly on Xbox Wire.

One huge piece of news from the letter is that Microsoft is dropping "Microsoft Gaming" completely, and is fully embracing the Xbox branding. Sharma and Booty say the old title "describes our structure but it does not describe our ambition," so "we are going back to where we started."

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For hardware, Microsoft wants the upcoming console-PC hybrid system Project Helix, the next big Xbox device, to deliver leading performance. It also aims to lead in the accessories market, and "Build a strong ecosystem that expands choice and reach."

In terms of content, the goal is to "Grow and extend an enduring portfolio of franchises players love," expand into China and other emerging markets, grow strong live-service games, and "Elevate creator-centric platforms like Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, and Sea of Thieves."

Microsoft also plans to elevate the Xbox experience with new enhancements and a renewed focus on customization and social features, and for its services, it wants to "Fortify Game Pass with clear differentiation and sustainable economics," promote "durable growth," and "Make cloud play feel native, fast, and reliable across TVs and low-cost devices."

Notably, there's one bullet point in particular that shot my eyebrows up: "Use M&A deliberately to accelerate growth where organic paths are too slow." This reveals Microsoft is once again interested in potential mergers and acquisitions for Xbox, which we haven't seen since it acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023 after a lengthy saga of legal disputes with the FTC.

Ultimately, it's a strong vision for Xbox moving forward, and one I have high hopes Microsoft can achieve with Sharma and Booty's leadership — especially since we've already seen an overhaul to Achievements, other major improvements, and a big Game Pass price cut come soon after she assumed her position. Here's hoping the future is bright.

How do you feel about Asha Sharma and Matt Booty's plan for the future of Xbox? Share your thoughts in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.

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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).