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EuroGamer
Asha Sharma-appointed Xbox VP of engineering leaves a mere three months after being moved over from Microsoft's CoreAI team
Jared Palmer has announced his exit from Xbox after a brief tenure of three months, following his transfer from Microsoft's CoreAI team. His abrupt departure coincides with significant organizational changes within Xbox, including considerable layoffs initiated under the leadership of Asha Sharma. These layoffs total up to 3,200 across multiple studios, raising concerns about the future direction of Xbox and its upcoming console, Project Helix.
MonitorConfidence: HighShort term horizonTalent displacement risk: High
Published 22 Jul 2026, 10:50 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Jared Palmer resigned from Xbox three months after joining as VP of engineering.
- His departure follows substantial layoffs under new leadership.
- He previously worked in Microsoft's CoreAI team before joining Xbox.
- Asha Sharma is restructuring Xbox and aims to focus on productivity tools.
- Concerns arise regarding the impact of layoffs on Xbox platforms.
Interesting facts
- Palmer was part of a larger contingent brought by Asha Sharma to Xbox.
- The layoffs represent one of the largest workforce reductions in Xbox's history.
- The timing of Palmer's departure may indicate challenges in the current Xbox leadership direction.