Who is Asha Sharma? Indian origin AI executive takes charge of Microsoft Gaming without game development background, triggers outrage among gamers

Inside Microsoft, Sharma most recently worked on Core AI products. Her focus was on helping developers integrate artificial intelligence tools into real world apps and services. This experience made her a strong internal candidate for Microsoft’s future plans, especially as the company continues to invest heavily in AI powered technologies across its ecosystem.

However, what stands out is what is missing from her resume. There is no history of game design, studio leadership, esports management or console hardware strategy. That gap has become the centre of debate online.

Soon after the announcement, Sharma shared her vision for Microsoft Gaming on X. She promised a stronger focus on great games and reassured fans that creativity would remain the heart of the platform.

She wrote that games are art made by humans and said there would be no tolerance for what she described as bad AI content. In interviews, she explained that a truly great game needs emotional depth and a unique point of view rather than just technical excellence. Her comments appear to be an attempt to calm fears that Microsoft could lean too heavily into automation or AI generated content in the future.

The reaction from gamers has been intense and deeply divided. One user on X said, “Not a developer, not an artist, not a programmer. They hired an Instacart employee to run the Xbox gaming division.” Another post that gained traction read, “With a career in Facebook and Instacart, who needs a background in video games?”