Union Contracts
Blizzard developers ratify first union contract with Microsoft covering AI, layoffs and remote work
The agreement consolidates Blizzard’s unions into three larger bargaining units
Company Profile
Microsoft
Website
www.microsoft.com
About
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
Related People
Asha Sharma
EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
Brad Smith
President
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
Satya Nadella
CEO
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
+3 more
Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
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Hot Five
Hot Five: Monster Hunter Outlanders opens pre-registrations, Savvy Games Group CEO steps down, and Xbox Game Pass to launch cloud gaming limits
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Week In Views
Cloud gaming's broken promises, inside DoubleDown, and Pokémon's new movie | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
New Offerings
Xbox Game Pass to launch cloud gaming limits in November
The company expects the change to affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers
New Offerings
Xbox begins testing ad-supported game streaming
The trial is currently available to Xbox Insiders
Jobs Roundup
July 2026's Movers and Shakers: Rollic, Scopely, Nodwin Gaming, Rovio and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Podcast | Episode 97
Xbox's big reset | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 97...
Hot Five
Hot Five: 10 years of Pokémon Go, Bold Games raises $6m, and Xbox to cut 3,200 jobs
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Ai Safety
Xbox executive Asha Sharma joins US Federal Reserve task force on jobs and productivity
Sharma will help assess how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies affect the economy and monetary policy
Mobile Mavens
"The business logic is understandable. The human cost is devastating": The Mobile Mavens on Xbox's restructuring
The Mobile Mavens discuss the latest on the Xbox reset, what challenges are ahead and why King and Mojang could play a central role in the company’s future
Xbox Redefined
The future of Xbox: What chasing one billion players means for the console giant
Xbox's new North Star is engaging one billion players daily - we look at the state of console and where the world's most played games and platforms are thriving
Union Support
CWA vows action after Microsoft layoffs impact unionised Xbox game workers
The union plans to bargain over severance, job placements and recall rights
Strategic Move
Xbox CEO says mobile to play key role as Microsoft restructures gaming business
Asha Sharma said the Microsoft games division spread its resources too thin
Leadership
Xbox appoints Helen Chiang as first chief operating officer
The appointment comes as Microsoft continues a broader restructuring of its Xbox business
Xbox Reset
King and Mojang to report directly to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma after company "reset"
The Candy Crush and Minecraft developers were highlighted for their large player bases
Sweeping Cuts
Xbox to cut 3,200 jobs and divest five studios
Microsoft is laying off 1,600 staff today and will make more staff redundant over the coming year
Podcast | Episode 95
Direct-to-consumer banks $17 billion and Google rolls out fee changes | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 95...
Jobs Roundup
June 2026's Movers and Shakers: Hires and promotions at Roblox, Scopely, Metacore and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Podcast | Episode 93
Record D2C revenue and international studios flock to Spain | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 93...
Layoffs Imminent
Report: Xbox plans major layoffs as new CEO pushes restructuring effort
The cuts would mark the first major restructuring under CEO Asha Sharma
Settlement
Microsoft agrees $250m settlement in Activision Blizzard deal lawsuit
Both parties deny any and all allegations of fault, liability, wrongdoing or damages
Podcast | Episode 92
The Sensor Tower / AppMagic deal unwrapped and Xbox's random rebrand | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 92...
Leadership Hires
Xbox hires Matthew Ball and Scott Van Vliet in leadership team expansion
Focus is on improving execution and speeding up product development
Jobs Roundup
May 2026's Movers and Shakers: Xbox leadership reshuffle, Stillfront hires CHRO, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Week In Views
GameStop's eBay bid, Xbox's leadership reset and Candy Crush's marketing lessons | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Leadership Change
Microsoft reshuffles Xbox leadership as Asha Sharma pushes turnaround
The Windows company will discontinue Copilot on console and begin winding down the mobile version
Jobs Roundup
April 2026's Movers and Shakers: Jam City's new CEO, Roblox's GM for Europe, Apple's Tim Cook stepping down, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Hot Five
Hot Five: Arknights: Endfield approaches $100m, Xbox mobile store still in development, and government support becomes a priority
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Podcast | Episode 90
Tim Cook's Apple legacy | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 90...
Week In Views
Game Pass price cuts and Super Mario Galaxy’s box office dominance | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Strategic Move
Microsoft says Xbox mobile store “not dead” despite stalled rollout
Xbox also outlined a new strategy in a recent blog post
New Offerings
Microsoft cuts Game Pass price and drops Call of Duty day-one releases
The changes come under new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma
Week In Views
Xbox Game Pass’ value debate and Doki Doki Literature Club’s policy clash | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass "too expensive for players", as per leaked memo
New Microsoft Gaming EVP and CEO Asha Sharma’s internal memo has been leaked
Jobs Roundup
March 2026's Movers and Shakers: Pokémon’s product marketing manager, multiple King promotions, founding Rocket Game Talent, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Hot Five
Hot Five: Overwatch Rush unveiled, Arknights: Endfield’s $46m month, and "bad news for Xbox"
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Podcast | Episode 85
The future of Xbox and Pokémon's 30th anniversary | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 85...
Mobile Mavens
Evolution or revolution at Xbox? The games industry reacts to leadership changes in Microsoft's games division
The Mobile Mavens share their insights on the past, present and future of Xbox
Leadership Change
New Xbox leadership insists there's no top-down AI directive from Microsoft
Console remains central to Xbox’s identity despite multi-platform publishing shifts
Xbox Verdict
"Bad news for Xbox": Analysts react to the leadership shakeup at Microsoft's games division
Games industry analysts offer their insights on the future of Xbox as Phil Spencer exits and Asha Sharma steps in
Hot Five
Hot Five: Scopely acquires majority stake in Loom Games, Phil Spencer retires, and Unity shares approach all-time low
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Executive Shuffle
Xbox's outgoing president Sarah Bond: "I’m proud of what we’ve built together"
Executive releases statement after executive shuffle at Microsoft's games division
End Of An Era
Phil Spencer retires as ex-Instacart COO takes top job at Microsoft Gaming
Xbox president and COO Sarah Bond also exits the firm as Matt Booty is promoted to EVP and chief content officer
Jobs Roundup
February 2026's Movers and Shakers: Shifts at Steel Media, Sega’s new CFO, Unity's board room shuffle, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Super Bowl Surprises
Pokémon and Mario splash the cash with Super Bowl LX ads
Lady Gaga’s favourite Pokémon, how Yoshi rides a motorbike and more unveiled at the NFL’s premium event
Jobs Roundup
January 2026's Movers and Shakers: Meta Reality Labs lays off dev relations head, Jagex creative design director exits, Unity's Larry Hryb is out, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Best Of 2025
Paige Cook's top stories of 2025: Squad Busters shutdown, a transmedia boom, the Digital Fairness Act and more
PocketGamer.biz deputy editor Paige Cook highlights some of the top stories of 2025
Milestone
Asus reports strong sales for Xbox ROG Ally X
The handheld’s October 16th debut drew an “extremely positive” market response
Mobile Minecraft
Mojang and King launch Minecraft Blast playtest in Malaysia
The mobile Minecraft game is a puzzle title with familiar creatures and items
Service Disruption
Microsoft Azure global service outage impacts Minecraft and Xbox services worldwide
The Windows company said an accidental configuration change triggered the global disruption