Xbox King Phil Spencer Bows Out As Asha Sharma Grabs The Controller, Sarah Bond Exits

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Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:01:56 +0000
Console Gaming

Phil Spencer isn’t retiring as the chief of Xbox ‘anytime soon’​
Spencer has headed up Microsoft’s Xbox efforts since 2014.
by Jay Peters and Tom Warren
Jul 3, 2025, 1:10 AM GMT+5:30

Microsoft says that Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO and the head of Xbox, isn’t retiring “anytime soon.” The company has responded to rumors of Spencer’s retirement, which have spread online today following Microsoft’s major layoffs.

“Phil is not retiring anytime soon,” says Kari Perez, head of Xbox communications, in a statement to The Verge. The denial comes after Call of Duty leaker GhostOfHope claimed “Phil Spencer will be retiring from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming after the launch of the next generation Xbox” and that Xbox president Sarah Bond would be taking over as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.

While Microsoft’s comment doesn’t address the rumor fully, it makes it clear Spencer isn’t retiring imminently. Separately, Microsoft communications chief, Frank Shaw...