Asha Sharma denied rumors about the possible sale of the Xbox division to a third-party company.
In June 2026, The Information reported that Microsoft had explored the possibility of selling its gaming division to a third party. That claim was publicly rejected on September 30 by Xbox head Asha Sharma, who told The New York Times in an interview that "Xbox is not for sale." Sharma said the company is committed to the division's long-term success.
The denial followed comments from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who said on the Sources podcast on September 25, 2026, that he expects Xbox to return to financial growth in the next fiscal year. The company's push for profitability is likely to involve steep cost cuts at unprofitable studios and franchises. Since Xbox restructuring began in July 2026, more than 2,000 employees have been laid off.