New Xbox CEO Is ‘Reevaluating’ Exclusive Games

Today, during an all-hands meeting and as part of a company-wide memo, recently appointed CEO Asha Sharma told employees that she and Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty are “reevaluating” exclusive games as well as the brand’s push into AI. It’s a big shift for the brand after years of expanding to other platforms, like PlayStation and TVs.

On April 23, this company-wide memo from the two Xbox execs was shared on the official Xbox news blog shortly after the meeting was reported by The Verge. The outlet also reports that Sharma shared similar details during an internal town hall meeting.

“Along the way, we will reevaluate our approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI, and share more as we learn and decide,” said the execs in the published memo.

Neither during the meeting nor in the memo did the new Xbox boss or Booty provide any specifics on what the plan was for exclusive games. For the last two years, Xbox has been porting its games to PlayStation and Switch. Titles like Sea of Thieves, Forza, and Gears of War have all made the leap. Starfield just arrived on PS5 with big sales. And previously announced upcoming games, like Forza Horizon 6 and the Halo Combat Evolved remake, are slated to arrive on PlayStation at or shortly after launch later this year. As far as we know, those plans have not changed.

Kotaku has contacted Xbox for more information.

At the time of the Halo remake’s reveal, Microsoft said “going forward,” Halo will be on PlayStation. It seems that might not be the case anymore. For PlayStation owners excited to play the next entry in the Gears of War franchise, the prequel Gears of War: E-Day, this might be bad news for them. That game is slated for launch in 2026.