Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, has shared a detailed growth plan with the company’s staff, outlining a bold ambition to reach over half a billion people daily by 2030. The goal is to achieve this milestone in just four years, a timeframe that is seen as aggressive by many industry observers. Currently, Xbox reaches around 100 million people each day.
Sharma’s plan, which was outlined in a memo to staff, sets out a clear roadmap for revenue growth in the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years. The strategy involves a significant investment in the company’s biggest franchises, including Fallout, Minecraft, and Candy Crush. These titles are expected to drive growth and attract a wider audience to the Xbox platform.
The restructure, which involves cutting 1,600 staff members and closing four studios, is designed to allow Xbox to focus on its core strengths and deliver a more cohesive gaming experience to its users. By concentrating on a smaller number of high-potential franchises, the company aims to increase its revenue and improve its internal margins. This will involve significant investments in areas such as film, television, consumer products, sponsorship, live experiences, and new partnerships globally, including China.
Xbox currently has three franchises that generate more than $1 billion annually, namely Call of Duty, Minecraft, and Candy Crush. To achieve its ambitious growth targets, the company will need all three of these titles to grow further, while also developing other franchises such as Fallout and Halo. The next-generation console, Project Helix, is also expected to play a key role in the company’s growth strategy.
Sharma has stated that the company’s recovery will take time, but it expects results in the next 12 months. The CEO has acknowledged that the company’s business did not grow with its audience in the last fiscal year, despite attracting over 200 million new players. This gap needs to be closed by investing in what players value, and the company expects to return to growth by the end of FY27.
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, has also touched on Xbox in a conference call with investors, stating that the company is making necessary decisions to reset the business for long-term growth. He believes that Xbox has the best IP in the industry and talented studios around the world, and that these strengths can be brought together to drive growth.
The ambitious growth plan outlined by Sharma is seen as a crucial step in Xbox’s efforts to become one of the few companies that entertain over a billion people each day. The company’s goal is to give everyone the opportunity to create and connect, and to become a leader in the gaming industry.
