Xbox studios boss confirms he’s leaving, after 18 months

June 15, 2026 - 22:14

Craig Duncan, the former head of Rare who took over leadership of Xbox Game Studios just 18 months ago, is leaving the company this week. Duncan confirmed his exit in an internal memo to staff, marking a sudden shift in the upper ranks of Microsoft's gaming division.

Duncan stepped into the role in late 2023, replacing Matt Booty after Booty was promoted to oversee content and studios across the broader organization. Before that, Duncan spent over a decade at Rare, where he oversaw the launch of "Sea of Thieves" and the studio's pivot to live-service games. His tenure at Xbox Game Studios was short, but it included the high-profile launch of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" and the ongoing development of "Perfect Dark" at The Initiative.

The departure comes as Xbox continues to restructure its internal teams following the massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard. No replacement has been named yet, and it remains unclear how Duncan's exit will affect the studio's current slate of projects. Sources close to the company say the move was personal and not tied to performance issues. Duncan's last day is expected to be later this week.