Home / Software & Gaming / New Xbox CEO retires “This is an Xbox” campaign

New Xbox CEO retires “This is an Xbox” campaign

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has officially retired the controversial “This is an Xbox” marketing campaign. The initiative, which debuted in late 2024, sought to brand everything from smart TVs to handhelds as an Xbox, suggesting that dedicated hardware was optional. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, Sharma pulled the plug because the campaign “didn't feel like Xbox”.

The campaign had been a point of contention since its inception. The push was a hallmark of former Xbox president Sarah Bond's “Xbox Everywhere” strategy, which prioritised cloud and mobile reach over console sales. With both Bond and long-time leader Phil Spencer recently departing the company, Sharma is now steering the brand back toward its hardware roots by retiring the campaign, according to WindowsCentral.

Recent sales data indicates that the Xbox Series X|S is trailing significantly behind the Xbox One's performance at the same point in its lifecycle, currently sitting over 10 million units behind its predecessor's 61-month total. To counter this slump, Sharma is reportedly fast-tracking Project Helix, a next-generation PC-console hybrid.

KitGuru says: Do you think retiring the “This is an Xbox” campaign will help Xbox make a comeback?

Become a Patron!

Check Also

Call of Duty COD

KitGuru Games: Predicting the Next Half a Decade of Call of Duty Releases

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) famously once said: “The three absolutes in life are death, taxes and a new Call of Duty coming out every single year”. Sure enough, the US founding father has yet to be proven wrong, with Activision and a dozen studios having ensured that come the tail-end of any given year, there will be a new COD ready to release. And so, what can we expect from the franchise later this year? What about 2027, 2028 or even 2030? By looking back at the past two decades of Call of Duty games, their trends, progression and regression, I believe I can predict the next 5 years worth of annual COD entries.