Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In a June 12, 2023 interview with MobileSyrup, Xbox executive Sarah Bond argued that games meant for everyone need teams that reflect everyone, said Xbox should offer something for many different people and moments, described its work with independent developers as long-term support rather than a one-time showcase slot, and singled out small Canadian studios she admired. The interview ran the day after Xbox’s June 11, 2023 Games Showcase. Everything below reflects Bond’s stated views at that time, not later Xbox decisions.
Who was speaking, and when
MobileSyrup identified Sarah Bond as Xbox’s corporate vice president for game creator experience and ecosystem. That was her role on the interview date. The interview, written by Bradly Shankar and published under the headline “Xbox’s Sarah Bond on the importance of representation, future games and Canadian indies,” says it was edited for language and clarity. The article does not establish what Bond’s role is today, so treat her title as a description of June 2023. The full interview is at MobileSyrup’s original article.
The conversation covered several topics: support for Bethesda’s Starfield, how visible Xbox leadership is to developers and players, representation, Canadian indie studios, the Xbox catalogue, cloud gaming, and what Bond expected from Xbox’s first-party portfolio. This article concentrates on the first four, since those are where Bond’s statements are most specific.
Representation starts with who builds the game
Bond’s central argument was that the people making a game shape what it can say. Asked about representation, she framed it as a practical requirement rather than a values statement: “if you want to build something for everybody, the team needs to represent everybody.”
#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.
She named the dimensions she had in mind: gender, where people are from, racial background, language, and ability. She also said that teams should include people with a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences, which is how she linked the composition of a studio to the quality and reach of its games. In her words, Xbox does not get to create “authentic, innovative, evocative, new experiences that meet people where they are if only one set of people who look a certain way and have had a certain life experience are building those.”
Bond did not present this as a finished job. She said the company had “made a ton of progress” over the five years she had been on the team, but that there is “a ton of distance to go,” and that “you’re never really done on that.” Readers looking for a measured result, such as a percentage of staff or a target date, will not find one in the interview.
Rank #2
- 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.
A catalogue meant for different people and moments
On catalogue breadth, Bond described a goal rather than a list of commitments. She said Xbox wants “everybody to be able to come to Xbox and find something for them, or find something for that moment in time.” She also made the point that size of audience alone does not define a successful game: “There are games that everybody tweets about. There are big things people always talk about,” and yet, as she put it, “In the end, people want games.”
She listed the kinds of experience she wanted the catalogue to cover:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →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.
- SHORTER HAIR TRIGGER LOCKS — Fire faster and react quicker with three-step hair trigger locks that reduce pull distance for rapid input in competitive gameplay.
- 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.
- Immersive games
- Multiplayer games
- Culturally specific games
- Emotional games
- Historical games
- Creative or experimental games
This is a statement of intent. The interview does not say how Xbox weighs these categories against one another, and it does not list which future releases would fill them.
Developer partnerships and Canadian indie studios
Bond described Xbox’s relationship with outside developers as something built over years. In her account, that support can include help launching and marketing a game, feedback, dashboard assistance, and education. She set this against a narrower view of what a platform relationship might look like, one where a developer gets a showcase appearance or a place in Game Pass and little else. The distinction matters for reading her comments: she was describing a model of ongoing involvement, not a list of guaranteed services for every partner.
Rank #4
- XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2: Play like a pro with adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks..Audio : 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other Xbox controller accessories made by Microsoft.
- 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.*
Bond also described her own use of attention. She said she used her public profile to highlight smaller games she admired, and she named two Canadian studios.
Cococucumber, Toronto
Bond cited Toronto’s Cococucumber, whose games Ravenlok and Echo Generation appear in the interview as examples of the smaller titles she wanted to promote.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBest 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.
Thunder Lotus, Montreal
Montreal’s Thunder Lotus, which made Spiritfarer and 33 Immortals, is the clearest example Bond gave of a partnership in motion. According to Bond, the studio wanted to work with Xbox again and return to Game Pass because of its earlier positive experience. That is Bond’s account of the studio’s wishes. The interview does not independently check the studio’s experience and does not disclose the commercial terms of the relationship.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Games and studios named in the interview
The interview mentions a number of titles as context for Xbox’s portfolio and its developer relationships. The table below lists them by studio. These are examples from a June 2023 conversation, not a list of what is currently available or included in any subscription.
| Studio (location as stated in the interview) | Games named | Role in the interview |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda | Starfield | Discussed as an example of support across Xbox teams |
| Xbox first-party (no studio named) | Fable, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II | Part of the first-party portfolio context |
| Compulsion Games (Montreal) | South of Midnight | Montreal studio example |
| inXile | Clockwork Revolution | Portfolio context |
| Cococucumber (Toronto) | Ravenlok, Echo Generation | Smaller games Bond said she highlighted |
| Thunder Lotus (Montreal) | Spiritfarer, 33 Immortals | Partnership Bond described as returning to Game Pass |
| Not stated (third-party) | Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Cities: Skylines II | Mentioned in the article’s context; the interview does not describe their development or partnership terms |
What this interview does and does not establish
- It establishes what Bond said in June 2023 about representation, catalogue breadth, partner support, and two Canadian studios.
- It does not establish which of the named games are currently playable, free with Game Pass, or sold in any particular edition.
- It does not establish that any later Xbox release, partnership, or hiring target followed from these comments.
- It contains no published statistic. Bond described her partner interactions as “dozens, hundreds,” an informal way of speaking rather than a counted figure.
- Its reporting on Bond’s views is limited to one interview. Her statements should be read as her own account, not as an audit of Xbox’s studios or processes.
Readers who want to check what happened after 2023 will need to look at Xbox’s own announcements and the current catalogue, since the interview cannot speak to either.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
