Xbox Targets 500 Million Daily Players by 2030 Under New Growth Plan

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has outlined a new growth plan that aims to bring the gaming division back to growth in fiscal year 2027 and reach 500 million daily active players by 2030, following another quarterly decline in Microsoft’s Xbox business.

The Verge obtained Sharma’s internal memo, which lists four priorities for the company: strengthening the Xbox platform with console at its centre, turning major games into global franchises, making Minecraft a broader creator platform, and expanding popular gaming worlds across more products and services.

The Minecraft goal stands out because Microsoft appears ready to compete more directly with Roblox, which has built a large business around user-created games and digital experiences. Minecraft already has a huge global audience, although Microsoft has not shared recent daily player figures that show how close it is to Roblox.

Xbox Sets a Three-Stage Growth Plan

Sharma divided the strategy into three stages, beginning with a return to growth in fiscal year 2027. Xbox then plans to turn its four priorities into businesses that deliver stronger player value and faster revenue growth during fiscal years 2028 and 2029.

The final stage targets 500 million daily players by 2030, supported by double-digit growth in player numbers, engagement, and profit margins. Xbox currently reports more than 100 million daily users, over 500 million monthly users, and nearly one billion yearly users.

Sharma also said three Xbox franchises now generate more than $1 billion each year. Call of Duty and Candy Crush are the most likely two, while Warcraft could be the third through World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and related products.