Xbox hiring gaming finance experts to 'drive transformation initiatives with urgency'

Microsoft is making two high-profile hires that may give an idea of how well the Xbox business is doing, or where management wants to take it in the future.

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There's lots of doom and gloom around Xbox right now. Outwardly, console price hikes, Game Pass increases, and unclear communication are Microsoft's biggest problems. On the inside, though, Microsoft is pressuring Xbox to deliver hard-to-reach profit metrics. Buying Activision for $68 billion put Xbox on the hook, and Microsoft's board, investors, and top execs want continual returns on that investment.

Amid the market turbulence and wider macroeconomic disruption, Xbox apparently wants to transform Xbox finances. Microsoft is making two hires that specifically focus on the money-making aspects of Xbox. One of the job listings mentions "driving transformation initiatives with urgency" with the intent of also making sure the studios are on the same page. On paper, Xbox is doing better than ever, with $23 billion revenue earned in FY25. Profit might be a different story, however.

• Read more: Report: Xbox targeting 30% profit margin amid layoffs, restructuring, and AI adoption
• Read more: MachineGames financials reveals Indiana Jones developer has 6% profit margin
• Read more: Microsoft clarifies Xbox revenue reports, says Activision has delivered growth

The Gaming Finance Transformation Lead job listing reads:

"We are seeking a Gaming Finance Transformation Lead with deep integration prowess to drive transformation initiatives with urgency and lead financial process and system harmonization across Gaming studios.

"This role will ensure seamless alignment of financial processes, systems, and reporting standards across multiple entities, enabling operational efficiency and compliance to align with business objectives."

Responsibilities

• Accelerate and drive financial transformation efforts for acquisitions and system consolidations, ensuring alignment with corporate policies and regulatory requirements.

What kind of transformation will Xbox make?

Microsoft is about to bring ads to games. We've talked about this for years, even making some predictions. Xbox cloud gaming will soon offer free, ad-supported game streaming to users. This is a big step that combines all of Xbox's strategic acquisitions over the past 5 years, including the mega ABK deal that secured King's ad tech platform for Xbox, as well as the Xandr buyout in 2021.

Plus, Xbox is laying out its next-gen console plans. This system could determine the future of Xbox, as it's rumored to also boot up Windows OS to play PC games on storefronts like Steam. That hasn't been confirmed yet, but if true, it will invite PC gaming's biggest player onto Xbox and potentially undercut Microsoft's own games sales business, as games sold on Valve's Steam platform are usually cheaper than the games Microsoft sells on its own digital store.

Making this work might require dramatic transformations within the Xbox business, ones that may also be accelerated by AI investments like its generative AI creation MUSE, which can render games on-the-fly without any active game development work.

Xbox is also hiring a Gaming Content and Studios Finance Lead that will work directly with each of the individual chief financial officers at Xbox's various divisions (ABK, ZeniMax, Xbox Game Studios, etc) to ensure proper "alignment."

"We are seeking a Gaming Content and Studios Finance Lead to strategically unify and lead the financial vision for our first party Gaming Content and Studios (GC&S), encompassing ABK (Activision, Blizzard, King), Zenimax, and additional independent studios.

"This role will provide a holistic perspective across all gaming studios, driving the consolidation of financial processes and systems across global organizations.

"You will collaborate with business owners and Gaming Studio CFOs (Chief Financial Officers) to identify and resolve challenges, as well as support the President of GC&S in executive reviews.

"By fostering seamless integration and alignment, this leader will enable operational efficiency, compliance, and transformation across our diverse gaming portfolio."

Responsibilities

• Develop and champion a holistic financial strategy for multi-billion-dollar gaming franchises, driving execution and accountability.
• Be the central finance lead for understanding first party Gaming Content and Studio revenue forecast, and provide insights and recommendations to help the organization exceed their revenue and accountability margin goals.
• Partner with studio CFOs (Activision, Blizzard, King, Zenimax, Xbox Game Studios) to optimize finance processes, identify issues, and foster cross-studio solutions.
• Support executive reviews by delivering clear, data-driven insights and process clarity.