Craig Duncan has stepped down from his role as head of Xbox Game Studios after less than two years. He is set to leave the company later this week.
Duncan took on the position in 2024, following the retirement of his predecessor, Alan Hartman. Before that, he headed up Microsoft’s studio Rare—an assignment he held since 2011—where he oversaw Sea of Thieves and several Kinect projects.
In his capacity as Xbox Game Studios leader, Duncan directed teams such as Halo Studios, The Coalition, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World’s Edge, and XGS Publishing.
The Game Business says that until a replacement for Duncan is named, the studios he oversees will be reporting to Matt Booty. Booty became Xbox’s chief content officer during a major leadership shake-up in February.
Along with Duncan’s departure, Louise O’Connor—currently chief of staff for Xbox Game Studios and a former Rare colleague—is also leaving the company. In a note to staff, Duncan wrote: “When I took on the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my aim was to support our studios, our teams, and the individuals creating our games,” he said. “Together, we aimed to deliver exceptional games, enhance the cultural dynamics across our studios, and influence the future of the business. I’m proud to say we achieved many successful launches that contributed to the company’s growth.”
That message also addressed O’Connor’s exit. “Louise has been a considerate, innovative, and reliable collaborator who has consistently advocated for the craft and supported our studios with clarity and compassion,” Duncan added. “I’m thankful for all she has contributed to XGS, and I am confident she will excel in her future endeavors.”
Duncan’s exit comes amid a period of major change at Xbox. In February, Asha Sharma stepped in as head of Xbox from Phil Spencer, a move that also followed the departure of Xbox president Sarah Bond. Since then, Sharma has rolled out adjustments to Xbox’s Game Pass approach, ended the controversial “This is an Xbox” campaign, and has begun directing attention toward the next wave of Xbox systems, Project Helix. She has said the project will “lead in performance” when it is released.
Earlier this month, reports suggested that Xbox is cutting budgets and getting ready to let go of a “substantial” number of employees as part of Sharma’s brand-wide new strategic “reset.”