Who Runs Xbox and PlayStation? CEOs, Stock and Careers (2026)

Who is the CEO of Xbox, who runs PlayStation, and can you buy PlayStation stock or work there? This guide covers the people in charge of both brands in 2026, what happened to Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, how PlayStation stock works, and how to apply for Xbox and PlayStation careers.

Who is the Xbox CEO?

The CEO of Xbox is Asha Sharma. She became CEO of Microsoft Gaming on February 23, 2026, when Phil Spencer retired after 38 years at Microsoft and more than a decade leading Xbox. In April 2026 she retired the Microsoft Gaming name, so her title is now simply the Xbox CEO, reporting to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Sharma came from Microsoft’s AI platform group, and before that worked at Instacart and Meta. Her first months set the tone for the new Xbox:

• A staff memo titled “We Are Xbox” that made Xbox the division’s identity again.
• The return of the classic green Xbox logo on April 23, 2026.
• A Game Pass price cut, with Ultimate falling from $29.99 to $22.99.
• Public commitment to next-generation hardware, Project Helix.

The Xbox leadership team in 2026

What happened to Phil Spencer?

Phil Spencer led Xbox from 2014 and became CEO of Microsoft Gaming in 2022. He oversaw Game Pass, the Xbox Series X|S launch, and the $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. He retired in February 2026 and handed over to Asha Sharma.

Sarah Bond and Xbox

Sarah Bond was President of Xbox, responsible for the platform, hardware and business strategy. She was the public face of the Xbox Series X|S refresh and the ROG Xbox Ally partnership. Sarah Bond left Xbox during the 2026 leadership change, and her responsibilities were split between Sharma, Booty and Ronald.

Who runs PlayStation?

PlayStation is run by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a subsidiary of Sony Group.

Totoki is the executive quoted on the PlayStation 6: he has said no launch date is set.

PlayStation stock: can you buy it?

You cannot buy PlayStation stock directly, because Sony Interactive Entertainment is not a separately listed company. To invest in PlayStation you buy shares of its parent, Sony Group Corporation:

• New York Stock Exchange: ticker SONY (American Depositary Shares).
• Tokyo Stock Exchange: code 6758.

Games and network services are Sony’s largest business segment, so PlayStation results move the share price, but you are also buying music, movies, image sensors and financial services. Sony split its stock 5-for-1 in October 2024, so older price charts can look confusing. The same logic applies to Xbox: Xbox is part of Microsoft (ticker MSFT), and gaming is a small share of Microsoft’s revenue. This is general information, not financial advice; speak to a licensed advisor before investing.

Xbox careers and PlayStation careers

Xbox careers

Xbox jobs are posted on careers.microsoft.com. Filter by the Gaming profession or search for Xbox, Bethesda, Activision or Blizzard. Most roles are in Redmond, Washington, or at studios such as Playground Games (UK), The Coalition (Canada), Bethesda Game Studios (Maryland) and Blizzard (California). Microsoft made several rounds of gaming layoffs in 2024 and 2025, so hiring is selective; engineering, live operations and AI roles are the most common openings.

PlayStation careers

PlayStation careers are listed on sonyinteractive.com under Careers, with jobs at SIE headquarters in San Mateo, California, in London and Tokyo, and at studios such as Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, Santa Monica Studio, Guerrilla and Sucker Punch. Applications go through the SIE careers portal. Internships and graduate programs open once a year, usually in the autumn.

Tips for applying to either company

• Use the official career sites only. Fake recruiters on social media sometimes offer Xbox or PlayStation jobs and ask for fees; neither company charges applicants.
• Studio roles favor portfolios: shipped games, mods, or game-jam projects count.
• Quality assurance and community roles are often contract positions hired through agencies.

What happened to Xbox Ambassadors?

The Xbox Ambassadors program was a volunteer community program where players earned rewards for helping others, testing features and hosting events. To join you had to be 17 or older with at least 1,500 Gamerscore. Microsoft closed the program on October 15, 2024 after 13 years. Former Ambassador Champions became Xbox Community Champions, and Microsoft pointed players to the Xbox Insider Program and Rewards with Xbox instead.

If you want to get involved today:

• Xbox Insider Program: test console and app updates early (free, through the Xbox Insider Hub app).
• Rewards with Xbox: earn points for playing and completing quests. See how to redeem Xbox rewards.
• Xbox FanFest: invite-only events for very active fans.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the CEO of Xbox?

Asha Sharma, since February 23, 2026.

Is Phil Spencer still at Xbox?

No. He retired in February 2026.

Where is Sarah Bond now?

She left Xbox in the 2026 leadership change; she no longer holds the Xbox President role.

Who is the CEO of PlayStation?

Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Can I buy PlayStation stock?

Only through Sony Group shares (NYSE: SONY, TSE: 6758).

Does the Xbox Ambassador program still exist?

No. It closed on October 15, 2024.

For more on where Xbox is heading, read is Xbox shutting down?

A short history of Xbox leaders

Each change of leader shifted Xbox strategy. Mattrick’s always-online Xbox One plan was reversed within weeks of the 2013 reveal. Spencer rebuilt trust with backward compatibility and turned Game Pass into the center of Xbox. Sharma’s early moves focus on making Xbox feel like Xbox again, with green branding, cheaper Game Pass and a stronger PC presence.

A short history of PlayStation leaders

Who makes the big decisions?

At Xbox, hardware and pricing decisions sit with the Xbox CEO and need sign-off from Microsoft leadership, which is why console price rises are often linked to Microsoft-wide cost decisions. At PlayStation, the SIE CEO runs day-to-day strategy, while Sony Group approves large investments such as a new console generation. For players, the practical effect is that both companies now announce major changes through official blogs first: Xbox Wire and the PlayStation Blog. Bookmark both, or follow our events and news guide.

Why the leadership matters to players

It is easy to treat executive news as gossip, but it changes what you pay and what you play. The Xbox CEO decides whether new games launch on Game Pass on day one, how much the subscription costs, and whether the next console will be a closed console or something closer to a PC. The PlayStation CEO decides how many first-party games come to PC, how often PS Plus prices rise, and when the next PlayStation arrives. When you read about a new chief executive, look at their first few decisions: they usually show the direction for the next several years. For Xbox in 2026 that direction is clear: lower Game Pass prices, a stronger brand identity and a bet on Project Helix as a hybrid of console and PC.

Checked October 28, 2026.