Overview
- Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor told staff they will leave Xbox Game Studios this week, a move first reported Monday, June 15, 2026 by multiple outlets.
- While Microsoft searches for a permanent replacement, the studios Duncan oversaw will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty on an interim basis.
- Both executives are long-time Rare veterans: Duncan led Rare from about 2011 until his promotion in November 2024 and O’Connor held senior production roles at Rare before becoming XGS chief of staff in 2025.
- Their departures come as new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has ordered a business 'reset' focused on profitability, a plan that reporting says includes budget cuts, portfolio reviews and expected large layoffs.
- Microsoft has not publicly given specific reasons for the pair’s exits, and the change raises short-term uncertainty for studio leadership, project schedules and the roughly 30 internal teams under XGS oversight.