Overview
- Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor are leaving Xbox Game Studios this week, a move first reported by The Game Business and confirmed by multiple outlets.
- Studios that reported to Duncan will answer to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty on an interim basis while Microsoft searches for permanent replacements.
- Duncan sent an internal memo praised by outlets in which he highlighted recent launches and thanked O’Connor, and that memo is the primary public statement about the departures.
- No official reason has been given for the exits, but the timing follows CEO Asha Sharma’s announced business 'reset' and reporting that Xbox is preparing budget cuts and potential layoffs.
- Both executives are longtime Rare veterans: Duncan led Rare for nearly 14 years before becoming XGS head in November 2024, and O’Connor worked at Rare for decades before joining XGS as chief of staff.