“All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency” - Xbox’s Asha Sharma wants change and “more choice” for people buying consoles

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has renewed calls for the gaming industry to prioritize affordability and efficiency in next-generation console design, coining the term “Rampocalypse” to describe rising hardware component costs. Speaking to the BBC at Gamescom, Sharma emphasized that the industry must shift its approach to balance performance with cost-effectiveness—a departure from previous generations.

Sharma, who took the role six months ago following Phil Spencer’s departure, reiterated that “Xbox isn’t healthy,” a message Xbox leadership has repeated since Microsoft’s July layoffs of 1,600 employees. However, she framed the company’s “reset” as necessary to ensure long-term viability in a challenging market. She remains optimistic about gaming’s future, predicting it will become “the most important form of entertainment for the next century,” though she acknowledged the path forward will be “challenging.”

Regarding the next-generation Xbox console codenamed Project Helix, Sharma declined to confirm whether it will include a disc drive, though she indicated Xbox remains committed to physical gaming despite Sony’s shift toward all-digital platforms. On the topic of exclusive content, Sharma suggested Xbox will continue producing platform exclusives to remain competitive, citing confirmed exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as examples. When asked about The Elder Scrolls 6, she remained noncommittal, stating that Xbox must balance exclusive content strategy with overall business health.

“All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency” - Xbox’s Asha Sharma wants change and “more choice” for people buying consoles

Sources