Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told staff at an internal town hall last week that the division needs new IP to survive, according to transcripts obtained by Windows Central from multiple sources. Sharma reportedly said Xbox will keep betting on its biggest franchises, but she also wants studios to keep making new games, framing that second part as a matter of survival.
Sharma told The New York Times earlier this month that Xbox is not for sale, suggesting the plan is a smaller Xbox that still takes some creative risks. In her remarks, she said, "We're backing our strongest franchises. I want our great games to become great global billion-dollar franchises. I would also like to see us continue to create enduring new IP. We will not survive if we only revive on the past."
The comments arrive three months after Xbox announced it would cut around 3,200 jobs through FY27, with Double Fine and Compulsion Games going independent as part of the "reset." Ninja Theory staff have since reported layoffs as the Hellblade studio moves toward closure, and Obsidian has reportedly had several projects canceled.
People were quick to point out how odd the message sounds, given that Double Fine and Compulsion, two studios that recently shipped new IP for Xbox, are no longer part of it. How many new games actually get greenlit is something readers can judge over the coming year.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing