Ethan Crossfield 
If you follow Xbox’s first-party pipeline, this is a leadership moment worth tracking: Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan has announced he’s leaving the company, and the studio group’s chief of staff is also exiting. Until a replacement is named, Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty will oversee developers under the Xbox Game Studios banner.
What changed inside Xbox Game Studios
Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios, has officially announced his departure from the company. According to the internal message he shared with Xbox staff, Duncan stepped into the role in November 2024 and is now leaving after roughly 19 months leading the studio organization.
Duncan’s email, first reported by TheGameBusiness, frames his tenure around serving Xbox Game Studios teams and the people making its games, with an emphasis on delivering high-quality launches and strengthening the studio culture. He also pointed to successful launches achieved during his time in charge, describing them as driving business success for the company.
The same email made it clear that this isn’t a one-person exit. Xbox Game Studios Chief of Staff Louise O’Connor is also leaving the company, meaning the leadership structure at the studio group level is changing at the same time.
Who is affected and how reporting lines will work
The immediate operational impact centers on where Xbox Game Studios developers will report while the organization searches for new leadership.
In Duncan’s absence—and until a replacement is appointed—developers under the Xbox Game Studios banner will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty. That interim arrangement is explicitly stated in the internal communication.
Duncan also described O’Connor as a trusted partner who consistently supported the studios with clarity and care, highlighting her role in championing the craft. With both the head and the chief of staff departing, the interim reporting structure is the clearest near-term change for teams producing Xbox first-party titles.
What comes next for Xbox’s first-party leadership
At this stage, the source does not name a successor for Craig Duncan or outline a specific timeline for appointing a replacement. What is confirmed is that Matt Booty will handle oversight of Xbox Game Studios developers in the interim.
For fans and industry watchers, the practical takeaway is simple: studio leadership at the Xbox Game Studios level is in transition, and the reporting line shift may influence how priorities and internal coordination are managed while new appointments are considered. Until new leadership is announced, the studio group’s day-to-day direction will flow through the Xbox content leadership structure represented by Booty.
What players should know
- Craig Duncan has announced his departure as head of Xbox Game Studios after about 19 months in the role.
- Xbox Game Studios Chief of Staff Louise O’Connor is also leaving.
- Until a replacement is appointed, Xbox Game Studios developers will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty.
Expert View
Leadership changes at a first-party publisher can be unsettling, but the source’s most concrete detail is also the most useful: the interim reporting structure is already defined, with Matt Booty stepping in for oversight. That clarity may help reduce disruption while Xbox determines who will fill the roles vacated by Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor. For now, the key thing to watch is whether Xbox announces successors and how that affects internal coordination across its studio portfolio.
