While many viewed Asha Sharma’s appointment as CEO of Xbox with skepticism, the new leader quickly made a positive impression. Lower Game Pass prices, the return of exclusives, player-focused communication… The early signs seemed encouraging.

However, cracks are starting to show seriously as layoffs and studio closures loom. In a recent article, The Game Business explains that Sharma has instilled a startup spirit at Xbox. She is said to prioritize speed over careful planning. Teams are sometimes notified of certain strategic changes at the last minute. This was the case, for example, with the console price hike announced this June 25.

While the goal is to boost the brand’s performance, this approach also tends to create chaos and confusion. Disagreements are reportedly brewing at the executive level, and Sharma is said to be listening more to consultants than to developers. In this drive for efficiency and profitability, the fear is that the president of Xbox could rush the release of games that aren’t ready yet.

Finally, the article in The Game Business reports that teams at several studios believe Call of Duty’s recent poor performance is partly to blame for the upcoming layoffs.