{"id":4529,"date":"2026-06-15T16:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/15\/xbox-game-studios-head-leaves-after-less-than-2-years-im-proud-to-say-we-delivered-many-flawless-launches\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:22:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:22:00","slug":"xbox-game-studios-head-leaves-after-less-than-2-years-im-proud-to-say-we-delivered-many-flawless-launches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/15\/xbox-game-studios-head-leaves-after-less-than-2-years-im-proud-to-say-we-delivered-many-flawless-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"Xbox Game Studios head leaves after less than 2 years: &#8220;I&#8217;m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-7b381664-a43d-4ef4-832a-f55f4335f37e\">The upheaval at Xbox continues. In a slightly shocking move, Craig Duncan has announced he&#8217;s leaving the role of head of <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/uk\/tag\/xbox-game-studios\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/uk\/tag\/xbox-game-studios\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/uk\/tag\/xbox-game-studios\/\">Xbox Game Studios<\/a>, only a little over a year-and-a-half into his tenure in the position.<\/p>\n<p>Duncan revealed the move in a memo to staff across the company, as reported by <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thegamebusiness.com\/p\/xbox-game-studios-boss-craig-duncan\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thegamebusiness.com\/p\/xbox-game-studios-boss-craig-duncan\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">The Game Business<\/a>. &#8220;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,&#8221; he writes.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-7b381664-a43d-4ef4-832a-f55f4335f37e-2\">&#8220;Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business,&#8221; he says. &#8220;I&#8217;m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel=\"\" data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;0SRhEcng&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;Irbe0LwM&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_Irbe0LwM_0SRhEcng_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;bOTdLUGA&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_bOTdLUGA_0SRhEcng_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;Ld6aVtD9fPJ4aBQnv6LOGQGu7L2Hq4xGja5LUwPV6j+es5u8&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header=\"\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-mobile\"\/><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container=\"\">\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/l3fqzehadb1768907286.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/l3fqzehadb1768907286.svg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/l3fqzehadb1768907286.svg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-e590f88f-a72a-4517-9fed-f36e92cd4c77\">Although his time in this position was short, it caps off a much longer run within <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/uk\/tag\/microsoft\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/uk\/tag\/microsoft\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/tag\/microsoft\/\">Microsoft<\/a>&#8216;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.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s joined in his exit by a long-standing colleague, Louise O&#8217;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&#8217;s held until now.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-3 pb-4 mb-4 border-solid border-y border-neutral-300\">\n        <span class=\"font-article-heading block pb-3 text-base! font-bold uppercase sm:text-sm text-[#333]\"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care,&#8221; Duncan says of his now former co-worker. &#8220;I&#8217;m grateful for everything she&#8217;s brought to [Xbox Games Studios], and I\u2019m sure she\u2019ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The teams under Duncan&#8217;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&#8217;s profitability and general standing, Sharma and Booty have since warned of an <a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/major-xbox-layoffs-reportedly-on-the-way-as-ceo-asha-sharma-admits-microsofts-gaming-division-is-over-extended\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/major-xbox-layoffs-reportedly-on-the-way-as-ceo-asha-sharma-admits-microsofts-gaming-division-is-over-extended\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/major-xbox-layoffs-reportedly-on-the-way-as-ceo-asha-sharma-admits-microsofts-gaming-division-is-over-extended\/\">&#8220;Xbox reset&#8221;<\/a> in the coming months, as rumors swirl of hefty layoffs and a full restructuring.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GvqvRMxs7AkBNE9bqyHnS8\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GvqvRMxs7AkBNE9bqyHnS8 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/microsoft-ceo-admits-theres-more-monetization-of-xbox-games-happening-on-youtube-than-the-company-as-it-tries-to-turn-this-into-a-sustainable-business\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/microsoft-ceo-admits-theres-more-monetization-of-xbox-games-happening-on-youtube-than-the-company-as-it-tries-to-turn-this-into-a-sustainable-business\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/microsoft-ceo-admits-theres-more-monetization-of-xbox-games-happening-on-youtube-than-the-company-as-it-tries-to-turn-this-into-a-sustainable-business\/\"><em>Microsoft CEO admits &#8220;there&#8217;s more monetization of Xbox games happening on YouTube&#8221; than the company as it tries to &#8220;turn this into a sustainable business&#8221;<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamesradar.com\/games\/xbox-game-studios-head-leaves-after-less-than-2-years-im-proud-to-say-we-delivered-many-flawless-launches\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The upheaval at Xbox continues. In a slightly shocking move, Craig Duncan has announced he&#8217;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. &#8220;When [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TsmpxmuMrkvDTKa9HRCrHH-1920-80.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[7658,7659,71,888,2661,3456,2631,1397,564],"class_list":["post-4529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gaming","tag-delivered","tag-flawless","tag-game","tag-launches","tag-leaves","tag-proud","tag-studios","tag-xbox","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}