Craig Duncan Named Head Of Xbox Game Studios

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that the recent shakeup at Xbox Game Studios has piqued my interest. The departure of Alan Hartman and the arrival of Craig Duncan as head of Xbox Game Studios is a significant change indeed. Having played Sea of Thieves extensively, I can attest to Craig’s leadership skills during its development.

Microsoft has revealed that Craig Duncan, who previously led the Rare studio, is stepping down from his role to assume the position of Head of Xbox Game Studios.

The decision is made following the announcement by the current leader of Xbox Game Studios, Alan Hartman, that he will retire at the end of November.

Since February 2011, Duncan has been with Rare, guiding its progression. During this time, he played a significant role in creating Sea of Thieves, as well as Battletoads, Killer Instinct, and numerous Kinect games produced by the studio.

In a memo to staff via GamesIndustry.biz, president of Game Content and Studios Matt Booty thanked Hartman for his years of dedication and service to the industry and Xbox. He then touched on what Duncan will focus on moving forward.

In his latest position, Craig will concentrate on aiding our studios to produce top-notch, unique gaming experiences that have the potential to expand into thriving series and touch a larger audience, by putting resources into developing fresh intellectual properties,” Booty commented.

Joe Neate and Jim Horth are set to replace Duncan in their roles at Rare. Notably, Neate is the current executive producer for Sea of Thieves, while Horth brings over two decades of experience from his tenure at Rare.

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