'Father of the Xbox' warns of Xbox decline after Spencer exit

Phil Spencer's surprise retirement, the unexpected resignation of Xbox president Sarah Bond, and the elevation of former Instacart executive Asha Sharma to Microsoft Gaming CEO left unanswered questions. Bond offered no public comment, and no one aside from Spencer—neither Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella nor Sharma nor newly promoted chief content officer Matt Booty—even acknowledged her work.

A later report by The Verge said the retirement announcement had been planned for a later date but leaked early. Andy Blackley, often referred to as the 'father of the Xbox,' said he expects "Xbox, like a lot of businesses that aren’t the core AI business, is being sunsetted," and added that the new CEO's role will be "a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night." He also noted he has no special insight into Microsoft now, having left the company in 2002 and since serving as CEO of Pacific Light and Hologram.

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