Xbox Game Studios Gets New Head Craig Duncan from Rare

New Head of Xbox Game Studios Announced: Craig Duncan Replaces Alan Hartman

Xbox Game Studios has announced a change in leadership with Craig Duncan, the current head of Rare, taking over as the new head of Xbox Game Studios, replacing Alan Hartman who is retiring.

Craig Duncan’s Background and Experience

Duncan has been the head of Microsoft studio Rare since 2011, overseeing several successful projects, including Sea of Thieves and multiple Kinect games. He will now be responsible for overseeing projects from various studios, including Rare, Turn 10, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, The Initiative, and Halo Studios.

Alan Hartman’s Legacy

Alan Hartman has had a long and illustrious career in the gaming industry, starting as a contractor at Microsoft in 1988. He has worked on several projects, including Age of Empires, Brute Force, and Forza. Under his leadership, Xbox Game Studios has shipped multiple critically acclaimed titles and has set the stage for highly anticipated games like Avowed, South of Midnight, and Fable.

Rare’s Future Plans

Rare has been working on its next project, Everwild, which was initially planned for a 2024 release. However, the release date is now uncertain. Meanwhile, Sea of Thieves was released on PS5 earlier this year and has been well-received.

New Leadership at Rare

Back at Rare, Duncan will be replaced by Joe Neate and Jim Horth. Neate has led Sea of Thieves as executive producer, while Horth has worked at Rare for over 20 years, most recently as studio director.

Key Responsibilities of Craig Duncan’s New Role

Craig Duncan will focus on helping studios deliver high-quality, differentiated game experiences that can grow into successful franchises and reach more players by investing in new IP.