Ahri's unqualified thoughts #55

Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.

In today's edition, we feature a tweet highlighting some of the accolades 'Mario Wonder' has received so far. Additionally, we present an article focusing on Microsoft’s management changes, positioning them well for the future of gaming and AI.

1 quote

“Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.” Marcus Aurelius

1 tweet/storm

A tweet from the official UK Super Mario account to remind you: 'Mario Wonder' is a phenomenal game sure to bring joy during these challenging times. Watch the accolades trailer :).

1 article/video

Now that Microsoft is beginning to integrate Activision-Blizzard, significant changes are occurring within the Xbox business unit and marketing in general. The Verge details all these alterations, providing a comprehensive overview.

Find a TLDR below, which includes the most crucial image, an organizational chart:

Microsoft Xbox Leadership Reorganization:

• Matt Booty has been promoted to president of game content and studios and will now oversee ZeniMax and Bethesda.

• Sarah Bond is now the Xbox president, responsible for all Xbox platforms and hardware. Note: Personally, I believe she's being groomed to succeed Phil Spencer at some point - see #3.

• After a commendable 32-year tenure, Chris Capossela, Microsoft's chief marketing officer, is stepping down and will be succeeded by Takeshi Numoto.

ZeniMax and Bethesda Integration:

• ZeniMax will persist as a limited integration entity, with Jamie Leder serving as its CEO and reporting to Matt Booty. Microsoft's goal is to enhance collaboration between Xbox Game Studios and ZeniMax's development teams to expand their game portfolio.

Sarah Bond's Expanded Role:

• Bond, instrumental in acquiring Activision Blizzard, will now supervise both hardware and software platforms for Xbox. Considering the leaks we witnessed last month, Bond's future endeavors may encompass a disc-less Xbox Series X and a next-gen hybrid console by 2028.

Increased Female Leadership:

• With the recent changes in Xbox leadership, for the first time in history, there will be more women than men in top gaming roles at Microsoft after Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizzard, steps down at the end of 2023.

• An amusing observation: A tweet from GamesIndustry spotlighting this achievement ironically displayed more men than women in the accompanying image.

Microsoft's Emphasis on Gaming and AI:

• Microsoft is repositioning its consumer sales organization, which manages consumer retail, to fall under the Microsoft Gaming team led by Ami Silverman.

• Post the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is intensifying its focus on the gaming sector, hinting at upcoming game releases for the Xbox Game Pass.

• In line with other tech giants, Microsoft is weaving AI more intricately into its products. The forthcoming launch of Microsoft 365 Copilot aims to revolutionize user-application interactions."

New org chart.