Xbox players and industry observers were surprised last week when Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced his retirement, with Xbox president Sarah Bond also announcing plans to leave the company. Now, Bond has shared her reasons for stepping away from the company.

In a lengthy post on her LinkedIn page, Bond wrote that she committed to staying with Xbox and guiding it through "a critical period of change" following the Activision Blizzard buyout in 2022. She went on to share her belief that the moment has been "navigated" and Xbox's gaming division is ready for "what comes next."

"With that, I've decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally," wrote Bond. "We're living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I'm energized by what's ahead. This moment also presents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter."

Last year, Chris Stockman--the original design director for Saints Row--told fans that he was working on a pitch to return the franchise to its roots. Now, Stockman isn't holding out much hope for a revival and believes the franchise is "dead."

Stockman made his original remarks on Discord, which have since been posted on X (via Eurogamer). "I think the franchise is dead, unfortunately," wrote Stockman. "I get the sense that Embracer has zero ability to do anything with it. I wish things were different. I tried my best to offer a path forward, but they've ghosted me."

Remember when we got excited about the prospect of a Saints Row prequel? Well according to Saints Row 1 Design Director Chris Stockman, Embracer is completely ignoring the idea.
Saints Row is once again dead. https://t.co/cpPVcRjxwD pic.twitter.com/FWpjC6kmkT

The most recent game in the series was the 2022 Saints Row reboot, which under-performed compared to its predecessors. In 2023, Saints Row developer Volition was shut down by Embracer, and there's been no concrete news about the franchise since that time.

A pair of skaters tested their might on the ice with an Mortal Kombat-inspired theme and became the first athletes in their country's history to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava brought their Mortal Kombat routine to the exhibition gala, with Metelkina dressed as Kitana and Berulava as Sub-Zero. Their performance was backed by The Immortals' "Techno Syndrome" from the original 1995 Mortal Kombat movie. Metelkina and Berulava recreated some of MK's non-lethal moves, and included a Friendship and a Fatality. They ultimately won the silver medal in skating pairs.

The Gala performances are absolutely stunning! #MilanoCortina2026 #FigureSkating pic.twitter.com/Rg40gEiNd8

NBC hasn't posted the footage from Metelkina and Berulava's Olympic routine online, but the pair have shared their performance before, including at the ISU World Team Trophy event in Tokyo last year.