Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly outlined plans to invest in Battle.net and simplify Xbox’s developer-facing publishing tools at an internal Microsoft town hall on Oct. 6, 2026. The remarks were reported on Oct. 7. The proposed Battle.net investment would support its existing community, Xbox first-party games and selected third-party titles.
Xbox reportedly plans to invest in Battle.net on PC
Sharma reportedly said Battle.net serves a PC audience Xbox has not reached through its single-app approach. She described its user retention as nearly as high as Steam’s. That comparison concerns returning users, not total user counts.
The plan points to a broader PC distribution approach: Xbox would support games through Battle.net as well as other apps that serve distinct audiences. The remarks do not describe a merger of the Xbox and Battle.net apps.
Simpler publishing tools for developers
Sharma also reportedly described work to simplify publishing targets, move to a headless Partner Center and make Xbox APIs machine-readable. A headless service can be used programmatically instead of through a conventional graphical interface; machine-readable APIs let software process information directly.
The changes are intended to make it easier for developers to work with Xbox, understand how their games are performing and access tools to grow their businesses.
The Witcher 3 is the specific game example
The Witcher 3 was identified as the first third-party game in this Xbox-Battle.net context. Its Xbox Play Anywhere support applies across Xbox Series X|S and cloud when the game is purchased through Battle.net on PC.
Xbox’s reported PC strategy includes other apps
Sharma reportedly said Xbox would continue investing in PC apps that reach distinct audiences. That approach includes Steam; the remarks do not signal an end to Xbox’s releases there.
