Xbox Game Studios has a new boss; this has now been announced by Microsoft.
As has now been announced, Craig Duncan will be the new boss of Xbox Game Studios and will therefore be in charge of all of Microsoft’s affiliated development studios in the future. He was previously head of cult developer Rare, but is leaving that position behind to become Head of Xbox Game Studios.
A new appointment to this prestigious and important senior position became necessary because the previous Head of Xbox Game Studios, Alan Hartman, announced his retirement at the end of November. He has held this position since October 2023.
Duncan brings a lot of experience to such a leadership position, after all, he has been in charge of Rare since February 2011. In this role, for example, he oversaw the development of the pirate epic Sea of Thieves or other games such as Battletoads or Killer Instinct as well as several Kinect titles . Prior to Rare, Duncan served as Director at Codemasters and as Studio Head at Midway Games.
According to Matt Booty, President of Game Content & Studios, Craig Duncan will help all affiliated studios deliver high-quality and differentiated gaming experiences that can also grow into successful franchises. In the future, more players should also be reached by investing in new IP.
At Rare, Joe Neate and Jim Horth follow Duncan. Neate was executive producer of Sea of Thieves and Horth also has a lot of Rare experience, having been with the studio for over 20 years.
Sounds almost absurd, but there is actually a trailer for Microsoft’s now completed takeover of Activision Blizzard King.
