Craig Duncan Appointed Head of Xbox Game Studios after Alan Hartman's Retirement

Leadership Changes at Xbox Game Studios: A New Chapter Begins

Today, we are announcing significant leadership changes within our team at Xbox Game Studios. After an incredible tenure spanning over 30 years with Microsoft, Alan Hartman will be retiring at the end of November. His departure marks the end of an era defined by innovation, dedication, and a profound passion for gaming.

Alan Hartman's Journey at Microsoft

Alan began his career as a contractor in Microsoft's early CD-ROM group back in 1988. Throughout his illustrious career, he has made remarkable contributions to the gaming industry, spearheading iconic projects such as:

• Age of Empires: A hallmark in real-time strategy games.
• Brute Force: Developed during his time as the studio head of Digital Anvil.
• Forza Franchise: As the founder of Turn 10, Alan helped build Forza into one of the top racing franchises globally, delivering 13 Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon games.

Alan's commitment to advancing accessibility in gaming has set a benchmark across the industry. Under his leadership, Xbox Game Studios has launched multiple critically acclaimed titles this year and laid the groundwork for highly anticipated games like Avowed, South of Midnight, and Fable.

Introducing Craig Duncan as the New Head of Xbox Game Studios

In the search for Alan's successor, we collaborated with HR to assess both external and internal candidates to find a leader capable of navigating the complexities of our business while fostering creativity. It is with great pleasure that we announce Craig Duncan as the new Head of Xbox Game Studios.

Craig holds extensive experience from his time at Codemasters, Midway Games, and Sumo Digital. Since joining Xbox in 2011, he has successfully led Rare, achieving sustained business success and developing new IP, particularly Sea of Thieves, a cross-platform franchise boasting over 40 million players.

In his new role, Craig aims to help our studios deliver high-quality, differentiated gaming experiences that foster the growth of successful franchises while also investing in new intellectual properties.

Leadership Transition at Rare

Furthermore, I am excited to share that Joe Neate and Jim Horth will assume the responsibilities as co-leads of Rare. Their leadership has been instrumental in Rare's growth, and I am confident they will continue to elevate the studio and its games to new heights.

Congratulations and Best Wishes

Please join me in extending our congratulations to Alan on his remarkable retirement and in welcoming Craig, Joe, and Jim into their new roles. Together, we look forward to the future of Xbox Game Studios and the innovative gaming experiences that lie ahead.

For more information on this transition and our upcoming game titles, stay tuned to our official channels.