The gaming industry has experienced a tumultuous period, marked by a wave of studio closures that have consistently made headlines throughout the past week. However, the most significant news to emerge came today, as reported by Polygon, when Phil Spencer, the long-standing Microsoft Gaming CEO, announced his resignation. Spencer, a pivotal figure in Microsoft's gaming endeavors since the launch of the original Xbox in 2001, has overseen a significant era of the company's involvement in the video game sector.

Adding another layer of surprise to the announcement, Spencer also revealed that his successor would not be Sarah Bond, who currently serves as the president of Microsoft's Xbox division. Bond had been widely regarded as the natural and expected heir to Spencer's leadership role within the gaming segment. Instead, the helm of Microsoft's gaming efforts will be taken by Asha Sharma. Prior to this appointment, Sharma held the position of head of the corporation’s CoreAI team, marking a notable shift in leadership and strategic direction for Microsoft's gaming division.