THE CRUNCH
Xbox chief Asha Sharma has reportedly told employees that Microsoft still intends to create original games, even as a sweeping division reset concentrates resources on its biggest franchises. Speaking at an internal town hall, in remarks obtained by Windows Central, she said: "We will not survive if we only revive on the past. We have to find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP."
The comments sit awkwardly beside Sharma's actions since her appointment earlier this year. Thousands of staff have been laid off, and studios with strong track records in new ideas have been closed or divested, including Double Fine, Ninja Theory and Compulsion. Halo has moved under Activision's stewardship, while Obsidian has been set to work on a new Fallout under Bethesda, leaving little immediate room for wholly original projects.
Sharma framed the strategy as backing winners: "We're backing our strongest franchises. I want our great games to become great global billion-dollar franchises." She also said she wants Xbox "to continue to create enduring new IP" that reaches new audiences. Eurogamer notes that Xbox's upcoming roster offers few obvious candidates for big new ideas beyond InXile's Clockwork Revolution, one of its two Xbox exclusives.
The town hall remarks come amid lingering uncertainty. Sharma recently denied to the New York Times that Xbox is for sale, responding to a report that Microsoft had considered restructuring the gaming division as a wholly owned subsidiary, and said the company would pursue "the right partnerships" and operating model. Eurogamer reports that hundreds of further cuts are still planned, and that the Gears of War: E-Day studio fears for its future despite the game's apparent success. Eurogamer says it has asked Microsoft to verify the town hall transcript.