Xbox Game Studios Boss Departs Amid Growing Concern Over Layoffs and Possible Studio Shutdowns

Two of Microsoft's astir elder managers overseeing Xbox Game Studios are departing the business, it's been reported.

Head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan and main of unit Louise O'Connor are leaving Xbox aft decades astatine the firm. Both antecedently served agelong tenures astatine celebrated British workplace Rare, which Duncan headed up for much than 10 years.

The departures were archetypal reported contiguous by The Game Business. No crushed was fixed for their associated exit, though it comes astatine a clip of aggravated interest for the aboriginal of Xbox Game Studios and its galore unit members — aft a dire informing from caller Xbox brag Asha Sharma implicit the division's slim nett margin.

Sharma's comments person been taken by galore arsenic a nationalist informing that occupation losses are imminent, and indeed, a Bloomberg study signalled that layoffs would hap arsenic soon arsenic adjacent month.

Fans are peculiarly acrophobic implicit the destiny of respective smaller teams that person not shipped a deed crippled successful years, specified arsenic South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games, Kiln and Keeper shaper Double Fine, and the already-downsized Turn 10 Studios.

Duncan joined Rare successful 2011, and led the institution done its play wherever it was champion known for Kinect Sports, to motorboat the hugely-successful Sea of Thieves.

O'Connor, meanwhile, antecedently headed up the now-cancelled phantasy RPG task Everwild astatine Rare, pursuing decades of work that began backmost successful 1999 arsenic an animator connected potty-mouthed N64 escapade Conker's Bad Fur Day.

"When I stepped into the relation of starring XGS 20 months ago, my intent was to service our studios, our teams, and the radical making our games," Duncan wrote successful an email announcing his departure, published by The Game Business. "Together, we acceptable retired to present high-quality games, fortify the taste cloth crossed our studios, and assistance signifier the aboriginal of the business. I’m arrogant to accidental we delivered galore flawless launches that drove concern occurrence for the company.

"Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted spouse who has consistently championed the trade and supported our studios with clarity and care. I'm grateful for everything she's brought to XGS, and I'm definite she'll beryllium palmy successful immoderate comes adjacent for her."

Without Duncan and O'Connor, Xbox Game Studios leaders volition present study straight into Xbox main contented serviceman Matt Booty for the clip being.

Last week, video crippled analysts told IGN that workplace shutdowns and ad-funded Xbox Game Pass subscriptions were apt arsenic Sharma present attempts to amended the Xbox division's equilibrium sheet. "The studios astir exposed are superb for prestige and rotten for the spreadsheet," 1 expert said.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social