The upheaval at Xbox continues. In a slightly shocking move, Craig Duncan has announced he’s leaving the role of head of Xbox Game Studios, only a little over a year-and-a-half into his tenure in the position.
Duncan revealed the move in a memo to staff across the company, as reported by The Game Business. “When I stepped into the role of leading [Xbox Games Studios] 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games,” he writes.
“Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business,” he says. “I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.”
Although his time in this position was short, it caps off a much longer run within Microsoft‘s games division. Duncan first joined the wider Xbox landscape in 2011, serving as studio head for Rare from February of that year until November of 2024.
He’s joined in his exit by a long-standing colleague, Louise O’Connor, who worked at Rare for over 25 years, starting as an animator in 1999, gradually rising to become a director and executive producer. In August 2025, she became the chief of staff at Xbox Game Studios, a title she’s held until now.
“Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care,” Duncan says of his now former co-worker. “I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to [Xbox Games Studios], and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.”
The teams under Duncan’s leadership will now report to Xbox CCO Matt Booty until the position is filled again. This is but the latest in a series of changes to the slime-green console, beginning back in February when Phil Spender stepped away from being CEO, to be replaced by Amit Sharma. In ongoing efforts to increase the brand’s profitability and general standing, Sharma and Booty have since warned of an “Xbox reset” in the coming months, as rumors swirl of hefty layoffs and a full restructuring.
