Alan Hartman, the head of Xbox Game Studios, is set to retire at the end of November after 30 years at Microsoft. Craig Duncan, the studio head of Rare, will succeed him, with Joe Neate and Jim Horth taking over as co-leads of Rare. Duncan’s focus will be on delivering high-quality game experiences and investing in new IP, reporting to the Game Content and Studios leadership team. Interestingly, Hartman had only been in his role for less than a year, taking over from Matt Booty last year. The retirement is not due to any controversies, but rather a decision after decades at Microsoft. This leadership change follows Microsoft’s recent layoffs and acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2022, indicating potential shifts in Xbox Game Studios’ future plans.
