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Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, has been a controversial feature for some, but it looks like it won’t be introduced to Xbox consoles anymore. Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma confirmed this pivot on X today, citing a need to “move faster, deepen our connection with the community, and address friction for both players and developers.”
In her post, Sharma states Copilot is also being dropped from mobile while announcing a leadership shake-up. “We promoted leaders who helped build Xbox, while also bringing in new voices to help push us forward. This balance is important as we get the business back on track,” writes Sharma. “As part of this shift, you’ll see us begin to retire features that don’t align with where we’re headed. We will begin winding down Copilot on mobile and will stop development of Copilot on console.”
The response to this announcement has been positive, especially since some players worried that Sharma, who previously served as the president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product, would push for more AI integration in Xbox products. This move at least aligns with her previous statement addressing concerns about AI on Xbox, where she promised that “Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.”
Sharma took over as Xbox CEO following the departures of former Xbox heads Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond in February, and has pledged a commitment to “the return of Xbox” and to understanding the Xbox ecosystem and audience despite having no prior experience working in video games. In March, she revealed more details about codename Project Helix, the next Xbox console currently in development, stating it “will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.”
