Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, the President of Xbox, made an unannounced visit at the ChinaJoy 2025 in Shanghai, China, to take in some games from important partners like Tencent and NetEase. Being one of Asia’s major gaming expos, the two executives got themselves trying many demos and talking with the devs while spurring a lot of comic reactions from the internet gaming community.
Now, about the vibes. Like really, man, have you been working on yourself? Spencer looked slim these days, all smiles while trying out some games. Some gamers joked that Bond looked like Xbox held a gun to her head because of her expression. One tweet went, “Sarah looks like she knows it’s coming too lol”—whatever it is. The gamers are ruthless!
But the real tea? The reply section was all hype, memes, and pure chaos. The players were hyped for the possible collaboration with Xbox; one even shouted, “They need to talk to NetEase about Marvel Rivals—give us an exclusive Blade skin since Xbox is making a Blade game!” Else, it was just clogging the replies with jokes about Sarah’s face saying, “I’d rather be anywhere else.” Classic!
Yeah, there’s the whole Phil Spencer weight-loss saga too. Some were convinced he had Ozempic (“If you’re fat and rich, why wouldn’t you be?”) while others defended him saying he’s hitting the gym. Someone even compared him to Resident Evil’s Spencer which… actually fits?
And undoubtedly, any gaming event is incomplete without some shade being thrown. Some players found it ironically hilarious that the “not activated Windows” watermark popped right in front of Microsoft’s top brass. Would the internet ever miss the chance to roast?
Beyond the jokes, this appearance is a sign that Xbox is increasingly focusing on the Asian market. If Tencent and NetEase are really all-in, would we then see more games developed in China making their way into Game Pass? Would there be some exclusives thrown into the mix? The fact that Spencer and Bond showed up at this event personally means Microsoft is taking their expansion seriously.
Now simultaneously, PlayStation was also present at ChinaJoy, though some fans felt Sony’s presence was pretty lackluster when compared to that of Xbox. One user even called it a “failure,” which might be a bit too much. It was just very evident—the energy that Xbox came with basically screamed, “We came to play,” and as for Sony… well, let’s just say Phil Spencer memes weren’t there to save them.
What’s coming next? If this one is anything to go by, more Xbox moves related to the region are sure to follow soon. Possibly new partnerships; maybe more Game Pass expansions; or at the very least, a few awkward photos of Sarah Bond. Whatever it is, the gamers are watching. Roasting. Always roasting.
