Microsoft Gaming Changes Name to Xbox: ‘Our New North Star Will Be Daily Active Players,’ Execs Say in Staff Memo

Apr 23, 2026 12:30pm PT Microsoft Gaming Changes Name to Xbox: ‘Our New North Star Will Be Daily Active Players,’ Execs Say in Staff Memo

By Todd Spangler

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Todd Spangler

NY Digital Editor

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Microsoft’s gaming business is going back to its original name: Xbox.

Four years after the tech giant changed the division’s name to Microsoft Gaming, its leaders have decided to change the name back to Xbox and laid out their vision for the next stage of the business.

“‘Microsoft Gaming’ describes our structure but it does not describe our ambition. So, we are going back to where we started and changing our team’s name,” CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty said in a memo to staffers Thursday.

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