Xbox boss did not answer questions.
On the next generation she stated "We've been hard at work on a great next generation and a great family of devices for Helix, and we'll share more soon. We will of course continue to push the boundaries of performance. We've talked about being able to not only play your console games, but also play your PC games on your console."
Family of devices is unique framing. Not a console by the sounds of it. Multiple form factors, a first-party handheld more tightly integrated than the Asus Ally partnership. Rumours point to Sony working on a PS6 handheld as well and rising component costs plus new leadership may have pushed Microsoft to other frontiers.
Affordability, from the company raising prices
"All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency," Sharma said. "That is something that we have not had to do. But with the crisis that's currently happening in hardware and components, it is absolutely something all of us need to be thinking about."
Xbox raised European prices by up to 200 euros several weeks ago, and the component crisis Sharma cites is driven substantially by the AI buildout Microsoft is spending 175 billion dollars on.
On how Xbox decides what stays exclusive, using Elder Scrolls 6 as the example.
"I thought you were going to ask me what the asterisk is. Like what the actual title is."
"We are one of the largest publishers in the world. We are increasingly going to be one of the largest platforms in the world. Every platform needs some form of exclusive experiences and content. And so what we've shared is Gears and Clockwork. We're going to do the best we can to continue to do that, all in the context of the business being healthy, and so we have to balance that."
On Elder Scrolls 6, she smiled. "It's a beautiful game."
Phil Spencer previously said keeping it exclusive was economically viable however Sharma did not say that.
Forza Horizon 6
Meanwhile the promise Xbox already made appears to be slipping. Forza Horizon 6 was set for a PS5 release this year after a limited exclusivity window. Tom Warren now says he isn't expecting it in 2026.
Microsoft has written off hundreds of millions on failed projects including Avalanche's Contraband, and spun off Undead Labs, Ninja Theory and Double Fine because they couldn't ship fast enough to cover costs.
That's the balance Sharma keeps referring to. Whether Elder Scrolls 6 lands on one side of it or the other is a decision she isn't making publicly yet.
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