Todd Howard 'Really Sorry' to See Former Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Retire, But Optimistic About New CEO Asha Sharma

Bethesda's game director says the new Xbox leadership team is 'great' and 'everybody's really optimistic' about the future.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:20pm

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Bethesda game director Todd Howard expressed sadness over the departure of former Xbox chief Phil Spencer, who he described as a 'good friend.' However, Howard says he is optimistic about the new Xbox leadership under CEO Asha Sharma, who he describes as 'great.' Howard noted that long-time Xbox executive Matt Booty has taken on the role of chief content officer under Sharma.

Why it matters

The transition in Xbox leadership comes at a critical time, as Bethesda prepares to release major new titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 under Microsoft's ownership. Howard's positive outlook on the new team suggests a continued strong working relationship between Bethesda and Xbox.

The details

In a group interview, Howard said he was 'really, really sorry' to see Spencer leave Xbox after nearly 40 years at Microsoft. However, he said his relationship with new CEO Asha Sharma has started on a positive note, describing her as 'great' and noting that 'everybody's really optimistic' about the future direction of Xbox under her leadership.

  • In March 2026, Phil Spencer abruptly departed as head of Xbox.
  • Asha Sharma took over as the new CEO of Xbox shortly after Spencer's departure.

The players

Todd Howard

A game director at Bethesda, the studio behind major franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

Phil Spencer

The former long-time head of Xbox who recently departed Microsoft.

Asha Sharma

The new CEO of Xbox, taking over leadership from Phil Spencer.

Matt Booty

A long-time Xbox executive who has taken on the role of chief content officer under the new Xbox leadership.

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What they’re saying

“Todd Howard was "really, really sorry" about Phil Spencer's departure from Xbox, but says that "everybody's really optimistic" about the future under new CEO Asha Sharma.”

— Todd Howard, Game Director, Bethesda

“Asha is great, and so far [...] everybody's really optimistic about where things at Xbox are heading under the new leadership.”

— Todd Howard, Game Director, Bethesda

The takeaway

The transition in Xbox leadership appears to be proceeding smoothly, with Bethesda's Todd Howard expressing optimism about the new team under CEO Asha Sharma. This suggests continued strong collaboration between Microsoft's Xbox division and Bethesda as the studio prepares to release major new titles in the coming years.