Asha Sharma talks a lot about Xbox's collaboration with Kojima Productions and praises OD in a new interview. She adds that OD is the type of game that Xbox should support, as it strives to expand the type of titles it platforms.
But Sharma's comments come right as many Xbox developers brace for layoffs. It's already been confirmed that there will be huge cuts as part of Xbox's “reset”, with entire studios expected to be shut down, or at best, sold off or made independent.
Asha Sharma wants Xbox to bring in more creators and developers – while it's laying off creators and developers
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Sharma says OD proves that Xbox “hasn't reached the limit of games” it wants on its platforms.
“We need to make sure that our platform is open enough so that more creators and developers can come on board and be successful,” adds Sharma. “The next Kojima is not yet known.”
She is of course right to point out that there is so much untapped potential in the gaming industry. Right now, even industry legends like Kojima can struggle to get their projects funded – in the same interview, he says other companies missed the opportunity to support OD. So if you're a first-time developer with a bright idea, you'll definitely struggle to find a backer.
The only problem with Sharma saying this is that her big Xbox recovery plan is about to result in Xbox losing a bunch of talent. Or, as Sharma puts it, losing “the next Kojima.”
Right now, Xbox hardly seems like a stable partner to have on their side. Just days after Ninja Theory announced its new game, Senua, it was reported that the studio is facing closure. In fact, it's since been claimed that Xbox was already considering getting rid of the studio before it decided to platform Senua's reveal at its showcase. It's hard to get excited about new Xbox games when there's no guarantee that the studio will be around much longer.
At least Bethesda insists that Akane's Blade game is still a work in progress, despite the silence of the project and fears that the studio is also facing closure. It remains to be seen how Xbox's various studios will fare as the recovery plans roll out.
