Xbox CEO Reaffirms Mobile Store Plans Are Still Moving Forward
Since Asha Sharma took over as the new CEO of Xbox, the platform has experienced a series of notable changes. The most talked-about developments include significant price reductions for Game Pass subscriptions and industry rumors suggesting that personalized subscription tiers are currently in development. Meanwhile, the Xbox mobile store initiative — first proposed by Microsoft during its acquisition of Activision Blizzard — had faced growing skepticism, with some observers speculating that the new leadership might shelve the project. However, Sharma has recently addressed these concerns directly, clarifying that the mobile store vision is far from dead.
Sharma emphasized that competition in the mobile space is vital to Xbox’s future growth. While she personally leans toward the traditional Xbox experience, she stated that as Microsoft’s gaming CEO, she firmly believes that an open platform strategy represents the correct path forward. As a result, Xbox will continue to push ahead with its mobile game store initiative, although Sharma acknowledged that current execution speed remains relatively slow compared to initial expectations.
Industry analysts point out that Xbox’s mobile efforts are strategically positioned to capitalize on Activision Blizzard’s deep expertise in mobile gaming. Key franchises such as Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty: Mobile represent valuable assets that could give Xbox a significant foothold in the mobile ecosystem. Sharma’s public backing of the mobile store plan is seen as a vote of confidence for this broader strategy, reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to expanding beyond traditional console boundaries.
Sharma has publicly acknowledged on multiple occasions that she is still in a learning phase within the gaming industry. This honest admission has generated considerable interest in what major decisions she will make next. The industry is watching closely to see how her leadership style will shape Xbox’s direction going forward. It remains encouraging to see the new CEO openly supporting a project that could meaningfully expand the Xbox ecosystem into new territories.
