Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Gaming, has been appointed to the company’s ‘inner circle’ of advisors – aka. Senior Leadership Team (SLT) – a move which indicates that the gaming space is fundamentally important to Microsoft’s future.

Reports state Microsoft has been looking to gaming as a core way to monetize Windows. Some of Microsoft’s new initiatives (e.g. HoloLens and mixed reality) are said to be closed linked to what Microsoft is doing within gaming.

Microsoft’s SLT now encompasses sixteen members, with the natural inclusion of Chief Executive Satya Nadella.

Prior to being appointed Executive VP, Spencer was the head of Xbox, Microsoft Studios, and Game Studios.

The organisational change is effective immediately, and followed an announcement from Mr Nadella to Microsoft’s employees.