Is Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Retiring? Microsoft Responds To Rumor

Xbox, Microsoft’s gaming division, has been hit hard with layoffs and studio closures. It comes at a time when the company’s strategy, which shifts some of the focus away from its first-party hardware to one where anything can be an Xbox, is under doubt by fans. That doubt now extends to whether current CEO Phil Spencer will continue to be at the helm for the long term.

Well known Call of Duty leaker, @TheGhostOfHope, kicked off the rumor that Spencer will be stepping down in the near future. They posted on social media platform X that “Phil Spencer will be retiring from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming after the launch of the next generation Xbox,” which is expected to launch sometime in 2027. Sarah Bond, currently president at Xbox, would take over as CEO following Spencer’s departure, according to the post.

Well, not so fast ...