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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesXbox’s reset combines a staged workforce restructuring with a broader strategy for players, creators and hardware. The company has expanded its Kojima Productions partnership and says its next-generation Project Helix will play Xbox and PC games. The announcements describe a significant reorganization, but they do not establish that Xbox is shutting down or being sold—and the planned 2027 developer hardware is not a consumer launch date.
What is changing under Asha Sharma?
Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma has described the reset as a response to financial and organizational problems, alongside a push to refocus Xbox. The company announced the changes in stages, so the planned reductions and later progress update should not be read as a final audited tally of departures.
The restructuring came in two reported stages
In an employee memo published by Xbox Wire on July 6, 2026, Sharma said Xbox planned to eliminate approximately 3,200 roles over FY27, including approximately 1,600 immediate role eliminations. The memo also said four studios would move out of Xbox management or seek new ownership, with different arrangements for each. Sharma said publicly announced first-party games and projects were not being cancelled as part of those reductions.
On September 22, Xbox Wire reported 268 further role eliminations and said completed actions were roughly three-quarters of the way through the previously announced restructuring. That update is progress reporting, not confirmation that exactly three-quarters of all planned departures had occurred.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Xbox leadership’s stated reasons
Sharma’s July memo said Xbox margins were 3–10 times lower than those of comparable platform and publishing businesses. She attributed the pressure to a smaller install base and higher cost structure at the start of Gen 9, and said Game Pass, multiplatform publishing and a broader content portfolio had not grown as expected. These are management’s explanations for the reset, not independently established measures of the causes.
“Our business today is not healthy,” Sharma wrote in the July memo. She also said, “We will return to growth in 2027.” That is a stated company target, not a guarantee of a particular financial result.
Rank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
What is Xbox’s stated strategy after the cuts?
In an April 23, 2026 Xbox Wire memo, Sharma and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty described a platform strategy centered on players, franchises, creators and hardware. They said Xbox had reached over 500 million players worldwide; the memo did not define that figure as monthly active players. It named daily active players as the company’s “north star,” described console as the foundation, and positioned cloud as a way to bring the experience to other devices.
The memo also said Xbox wants to give creators tools to reach a global audience, and named high-performance accessories among its hardware priorities. These statements describe the company’s intended direction; they do not demonstrate that the reset has succeeded.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Business Chief’s October 6, 2026 article characterizes Game Pass as having peaked at 34 million subscribers and Xbox as contributing around 6% of Microsoft’s profits. Those figures are Business Chief’s reporting, not numbers confirmed in the Xbox strategy memo described above. Business Chief also frames Sharma’s appointment as a sharp change in leadership background; that is the publication’s interpretation.
What is Xbox making with Kojima Productions?
Xbox has officially expanded its relationship with Kojima Productions beyond the existing OD project. In a September 9, 2026 Xbox Wire announcement, Xbox said it would publish PHYSINT, an action-espionage game, and that the organizations would collaborate beyond games in film and television. The announcement did not provide a release date or disclose the deal’s economics.
Rank #4
- BREAKER SERIES — Hold nothing back. Ice Breaker keeps it forever fresh with a mix of iced and frosted blues. Part of the collective debut of the Breaker special edition series.
- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can keep playing without stopping to recharge.
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Sharma said, “Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life. We’re honored that Kojima-san has chosen XBOX to work with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on PHYSINT.” Kojima said, “This expands our relationship with XBOX beyond OD.”
Xbox’s September 17 update named Bill Skarsgård as the lead performer in PHYSINT. Business Chief characterizes the arrangement as a below-market-cost deal and refers to film and TV rights; Xbox’s announcements confirm the screen-media collaboration but do not confirm that cost characterization.
Best Value
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
What is Project Helix?
Project Helix is the name Xbox has given to its next-generation console project. In a March 11, 2026 Xbox Wire update from the Game Developers Conference, Xbox said Helix is designed to play both Xbox console and PC games and uses a custom AMD system-on-chip. Danielle Partis summarized the keynote this way: “Project Helix is designed to play your Xbox console and PC games, delivering leading performance and ushering in the next generation of console gaming.”
Developer hardware is not a retail date
Xbox said it planned to begin sending alpha hardware to developers in 2027. That is a development milestone, not a consumer release window. In April, Sharma told Windows Central that Xbox was not ready to share a launch timeline and that memory costs could affect pricing and availability.
The cited announcements establish the intended game-support scope and custom AMD silicon, but do not establish a consumer price, retail launch date, disc support, or compatibility with existing accessories. Claims about those details would be speculation.
Does the reset mean Xbox is shutting down or being sold?
The cited announcements describe workforce reductions, studio changes, strategic priorities and a next-generation console in development. They do not announce that Xbox is shutting down or being sold. The studio arrangements are not all described as the same kind of transfer, so the announcement of four studios moving out of Xbox management should not be taken to mean that all four were sold.
Business Chief’s article quotes Sharma saying, “Competition and collaboration can coexist,” in reference to Sony. That remark is a reported comment about the competitive landscape, not evidence of a sale or shutdown. The practical distinction is between a major restructuring—which Xbox has announced—and a corporate exit, which the cited material does not announce.
Quick Recap
What remains unresolved?
- Project Helix’s consumer launch and price: Xbox has not announced either in the cited material.
- Retail hardware details: Disc support, final specifications and accessory compatibility are not established.
- PHYSINT timing and deal terms: No release date or financial terms were announced by Xbox.
- The final restructuring total: Xbox’s September update reported progress, not a final audited count of completed departures.
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