On October 8, 2026, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced two leadership appointments. Kayleen Walters is leaving her role at Mojang to become president of XP, a new Xbox division for experiences built around its franchises beyond the games themselves. Maria Angelidou-Smith is joining as CEO of Mojang and Minecraft, with a announced start date of Monday, October 19, 2026. Both report to Sharma.
The appointments at a glance
| Appointee | New role | Background stated by Xbox | Reports to | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayleen Walters | President of XP (new division) | Leaving her Mojang role; 13 years at Lucasfilm; executive producer of A Minecraft Movie and producer of its sequel | Asha Sharma | Not stated in the announcement |
| Maria Angelidou-Smith | CEO of Mojang and Minecraft | Product and technology leadership at Meta, Personio and Reddit | Asha Sharma | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
Both biographical summaries are Xbox’s own description of the appointees. Xbox did not publish the appointees’ full career histories in this announcement.
Kayleen Walters and the XP division
Walters’s background, as Xbox describes it
Xbox says Walters spent 13 years at Lucasfilm, where she helped guide Star Wars across films, products and partnerships. At Mojang she helped grow Minecraft consumer products into what Xbox calls a multibillion-dollar business with more than 250 licensees. She also served as executive producer of A Minecraft Movie and as producer of its sequel. Those are company-reported claims; the announcement does not include independent verification of the business figures.
What XP is meant to do
XP is a new division that brings together capabilities that already existed across Xbox teams and organizes them around four areas. According to Xbox’s description, games remain the foundation of these franchises, and XP will work with studios and outside creative partners.
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#1 Best Overall
- 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.
| XP area | What Xbox says it covers |
|---|---|
| Xbox Pictures | Film, television and other linear storytelling |
| Xbox Products | Licensing and merchandise |
| Xbox Places | Live events, immersive experiences, attractions, broadcasts and destinations |
| Xbox Partnerships | Work with creators, brands and communities, including sponsorships and brand partnerships |
Sharma framed the division’s purpose this way: XP is focused on “how people experience our franchises beyond the games themselves.” The XP announcement adds: “Great games remain at the center of these franchises and at the heart of XBOX.” The two statements are from different sources and should be read together, with Sharma’s remark describing the division’s focus and Xbox’s line describing games as the core.
Maria Angelidou-Smith and Mojang and Minecraft
Xbox describes Angelidou-Smith as bringing product and technology leadership experience from Meta, Personio and Reddit. The announcement says she led Facebook Groups, Events, Creators, Search, Profile and Monetization at Meta, and that Facebook Groups reached more than 1.8 billion people each month, a figure Xbox reports without a stated measurement period.
Rank #2
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Her first stated priority is to learn from the teams and communities that know Minecraft. That is the most specific description of her plans in the announcement; Xbox did not outline changes to Mojang’s studio structure, release schedule or leadership team below her.
Reporting lines and the wider 2026 leadership transition
The announcement says both new appointees report to Asha Sharma. The appointments follow a larger change Microsoft announced on February 20, 2026. In that announcement, Sharma became executive vice president and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, reporting to Satya Nadella. Matt Booty became executive vice president and chief content officer. Phil Spencer said he would stay on in an advisory role through the summer to support the handoff, and the announcement said Sarah Bond had decided to leave Microsoft.
Rank #3
- PLAY LIKE A PRO — The XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 features over 30 ways to play like a pro. Designed in collaboration with pro-level players, it puts exceptional performance, customization, and durability where it matters most.
- ADJUSTABLE-TENSION THUMBSTICKS — Fine-tune your aim with thumbsticks that let you adjust resistance for improved accuracy, consistency, and control in every match.
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- INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS — Swap thumbstick toppers, D-pads, and paddles to tailor your controller to your preferred gaming style. Includes 6 thumbsticks, 4 paddles, 2 D-pads, carrying case, and charging dock.
- SAVE AND SWITCH PROFILES — Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly with the dedicated Profile button. Even pick which color the XBOX button lights up as.
Effective April 23, 2026, Microsoft Gaming became known as XBOX, and Sharma’s title became CEO XBOX, according to a Microsoft editor’s note. Xbox’s current leadership roster lists Sharma as CEO, Walters as president of XP, Angelidou-Smith as CEO of Mojang, and Booty as chief content officer, along with other executives including Helen Chiang, Matthew Ball and Scott Van Vliet. Titles on the live roster can change, so check it for the current listing.
A separate restructuring is also underway. In September 2026, Booty described changes to studio remits, including an expanded remit for Activision, an expanded Bethesda remit that includes Obsidian, and a combined Playground and Turn 10 studio focused on Forza and Fable. Those changes were not part of the October appointments announcement.
Rank #4
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- CORE ESSENTIALS: Includes just the components you need to unleash your best game. Additional components sold separately for even more customization with the Complete Component Pack.
- LIMITLESS CUSTOMIZATION: Exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox Accessories app—even pick which color the Xbox button lights up with.*
- CUSTOM PROFILES: Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly.*
- EXTENDED GAMEPLAY: Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of battery life and refined components that are built to last.*
Figures Xbox has published
The following numbers come from Xbox’s own announcements. They have not been independently audited.
- 13 years at Lucasfilm (Walters; Xbox, 2026).
- More than 250 licensees for Minecraft consumer products (Xbox, 2026).
- More than 1.8 billion monthly users of Facebook Groups (Angelidou-Smith’s former product area at Meta; Xbox, 2026).
- More than 425 million Minecraft units sold during Walters’s tenure, up from 350 million (Xbox Wire, 2026). Xbox gives no measurement date or methodology for these units.
- Biggest opening weekend ever for a video-game adaptation, and number one at the domestic box office, as Xbox Wire describes A Minecraft Movie. Xbox does not specify how it made the comparison.
What the announcement does not say
- It does not name a specific film, television project, product, event or attraction under XP.
- It does not name partners, sponsors or licensees for XP.
- It does not give a start date for Walters in her new role.
- It does not forecast XP’s commercial performance. The four areas describe Xbox’s stated intentions, not confirmed projects or release dates.
Minecraft merchandise is the most concrete existing example of the licensing and products work XP will cover, because Xbox describes Minecraft consumer products as an established business. The announcement does not tie that work to any particular item or retailer.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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 to check next
- Angelidou-Smith’s start on October 19, 2026, and any first remarks she makes about Mojang and Minecraft.
- Walters’s start date in the XP role, which has not been published in the announcement.
- The live Xbox leadership roster, for current titles.
- The first named XP projects, partners or products, which would be the first confirmation of how the four areas are being used.
The Bottom Line
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