Sarah Bond's departure reportedly came as a relief to many at Microsoft
, by Thibaut
Revelations about Xbox's major organizational shakeup are slowly trickling out. The Verge has published an article that takes a behind-the-scenes look at this major upheaval for the American company.
The article, written by Tom Warren, reveals that the announcement of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond's departure was supposed to take place on Monday, February 23. However, since IGN was about to share the information, Microsoft decided to move up its announcement to Friday, February 20. As a result, the company's teams learned the news via social media and the media, leading to a chaotic day for the entire staff.
Spencer had apparently already resigned last year and taken an extended vacation last February. As a result, his colleagues had to wait several weeks to have important changes approved. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood disagreed on who should succeed him. In the end, Asha Sharma was chosen over Sarah Bond. Revelations about Bond have also come to light.
According to a dozen current and former employees contacted by The Verge, Sarah Bond was causing problems internally. Her "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign and her strategic shift to "You don't need an Xbox to play on Xbox" were not unanimously supported by the company's teams. As a result, employees were reportedly "relieved" by the announcement of her departure. Bond is even described as "difficult to manage". She did not hesitate to exclude people who questioned her vision. However, her ability to forge partnerships with studios and developers was still praised.
Finally, Sharma's appointment as CEO is said to have raised concerns internally. Given her background, some fear a shift too focused on AI. Her lack of experience in entertainment and gaming is also a source of concern. People who know her well describe her as "enthusiastic, eager to learn, and very good at getting teams to implement a clear vision".
Source: theverge.com