Xbox Game Studios is Losing its Boss and Chief of Staff

Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft’s game publishing arm, is losing its boss and Chief of Staff, according to a new report from Christopher Dring on The Game Business. Rare veteran Craig Duncan was appointed head of Xbox Game Studios in November 2024 to replace Alan Hartman, but he will leave the role after a year and a half.

“When I stepped into the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games. Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business. I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company,” Duncan said in an email to employees.

Duncan will leave Xbox Game Studios this week, and Microsoft’s various game studios, including Rare, Playground Games, Halo Studios, The Coalition, and Playground Games, will be temporarily reporting directly to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty. The latter used to be head of Xbox Game Studios before being appointed CCO when Asha Sharma became CEO of Xbox earlier this year.

Louise O’Connor, another Rare veteran who was promoted to Xbox Game Studios Chief of Staff in September, is also on the way out. “Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care. I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to XGS, and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her,” Duncan said in his email.

These high-profile departures come at a turbulent time for Xbox, with CEO Asha Sharma announcing a “reset” of the business over the next 100 days. Unfortunately, another round of layoffs could be on the cards, and a recent report from The Information revealed that Microsoft was considering more dramatic changes, including spinning out Xbox or restructuring the division as a wholly-owned subsidiary.