When Phil Spencer retired in February 2026 after nearly four decades at Microsoft, Xbox needed a strong hand at the wheel. Asha Sharma stepped into the role having previously served as Microsoft’s President of CoreAI Product, and in just a few months, she has moved faster than almost anyone expected. Here are three things she has already improved.

1. Game Pass Got a Price Cut — and Console Updates Are Coming Faster

One of Sharma’s first and most fan-friendly moves was slashing the price of Xbox Game Pass, bringing the subscription back within reach for players who had grown frustrated with rising costs. She also committed to delivering Xbox updates on both console and PC every two weeks, with a clear focus on fixing the fundamentals of the core gaming experience. Major improvements to Achievements and a wide range of new platform features were already rolled out by the end of April — proof that the bi-weekly update promise is more than just talk.

2. She Gave Away Free Limited-Edition Consoles at FanFest LA

This one nobody saw coming. Right after the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 wrapped up on June 7, Sharma took the stage at Xbox FanFest LA and told every attendee with a “fan” badge that they would be receiving a free Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console later this year. The Xbox Series X25 is a 25th anniversary special edition built around the nostalgic translucent green design of the original Xbox, complete with a matching controller. The room went absolutely wild — and videos of the moment spread across social media within minutes, generating more positive buzz for Xbox than anything the brand had pulled off in years. By pairing a return to permanent console exclusives with an unforgettable live crowd giveaway, Xbox’s new leadership sent a clear message that it is actively investing back into the community that built the brand.

3. AI Bloat Got Cut and Focus Returned to Core Gaming

Sharma announced that the AI-powered Copilot assistant would be wound down on mobile and its planned console launch scrapped entirely — less than a year after Microsoft had debuted it as a flagship feature. Rather than forcing AI into a gaming context where it clearly wasn’t landing, Sharma chose to trim the fat and redirect energy towards what players actually care about. She also cancelled the widely mocked Copilot for Gaming initiative and pushed a renewed focus on console exclusives under the banner of a “Return of Xbox.”

It’s still early days, but the momentum under Sharma is impossible to ignore. Xbox hasn’t felt this focused — or this fun — in years.