Microsoft CEO confirms “foundational work” to “win back” fans of Windows and Xbox

Microsoft confirms a shift to a “quality” focus within its consumer business

During Microsoft’s Q3 2026 earnings call, the company’s CEO, Satya Nadella, confirmed that they are doing “foundational work” within its consumer business. Microsoft plans to “win back fans” of Windows, Xbox, Bing, and Edge. By shifting its focus to quality and serving its core users, Microsoft aims to boost engagement.

For Windows, Microsoft has already announced planned performance improvements. This includes improved performance for low-memory devices. Furthermore, changes to Windows updates will make Windows less tedious to use. We’ve detailed Microsoft’s plan to win back Windows users in our article about Microsoft’s “K2” project.

Finally, when it comes to our consumer business, we’re doing the foundational work required to win back fans and strengthen engagement across Windows, Xbox, Bing, and Edge. In the near term, we are focused on fundamentals, prioritizing quality and serving our core users better. You see this in the work underway across our consumer products.

With Windows, we recently announced performance improvements for lower memory devices, streamlined the Windows update experience, and brought back focus to core features and fundamentals that matter most to our customers.

You also see this in Xbox, where the team is recommitting to our core fans and players and shaping the future of play. Last week’s Game Pass changes are one example of how we are staying responsive to customer feedback. Monthly active Windows devices surpassed 1.6 billion, and over time, Windows value will extend to deliver unmetered intelligence at the edge.

– Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO

Microsoft also hopes to revitalise Xbox, having delivered an Xbox Game Pass price drop earlier this month. With Project Helix, Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox, supporting PC games, the future of Windows and Xbox is now linked.

Based on Satya’s statement, Microsoft is genuinely trying to improve its consumer-facing products. The impact of this can already be seen with Game Pass’ lowered pricing and the newest changes to Windows Insider builds. If Microsoft can maintain this momentum, Windows 11 will be a much better OS this time next year. Let’s just hope that Microsoft is willing to stick with its “Windows K2” plans. If not, I can see a lot of people jumping to a new OS.

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