Craig Duncan is set to step into the role of head of Xbox Game Studios this November. Currently leading Rare, the studio responsible for Sea of Thieves, Duncan takes over as Alan Hartman, the present head of Xbox Game Studios, is set to retire at the month's end after a year in the position. With nearly 14 years at the helm of Rare, Duncan has significantly contributed to not just the acclaimed live-service pirate game but also the studio’s titles developed for Kinect.
His rich experience includes leadership roles at various studios such as Sumo Digital, Midway, and Codemasters. In his new capacity, Duncan will manage the array of teams under Microsoft's Xbox umbrella, which now includes the recently renamed Halo Studios, along with The Coalition, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World's Edge, and several others. Reporting to Matt Booty, the president of Game Content and Studios, Duncan has a vast responsibility ahead. Following Duncan's transition, his roles at Rare will be filled by Joe Neate, the executive project lead for Sea of Thieves, and Jim Horth, the studio director.
Neate, who has been with Rare since 2013 after his tenure at Sumo Digital and Midway, joins Horth, a veteran with over two decades of experience at Rare. Booty reflected on Hartman's impactful tenure, highlighting his career filled with innovation and a deep commitment to gaming. Hartman's journey with Microsoft began as a contractor in the early days of CD-ROM development in 1988. Throughout his career, he worked on numerous notable projects, from Age of Empires to leading Digital Anvil on Brute Force, and played a pivotal role in founding Turn 10. Hartman's leadership saw the creation of the Forza franchise, which includes 13 core titles and has established itself as a premier racing series globally.
His focus on accessibility has set new standards within the industry, and under his guidance, Xbox Game Studios has released several critically acclaimed titles this year while laying the groundwork for highly anticipated projects like Avowed and Fable. Acknowledging his journey, Hartman expressed gratitude for his time as a studio head, calling it both rewarding and challenging. He emphasized how much he enjoyed collaborating with studio leaders and their teams and stated it was a privilege to represent Xbox Game Studios. Regarding Duncan's upcoming role, Booty remarked that he will be dedicated to guiding studios in creating high-quality, unique gaming experiences, aiming for the development of successful franchises and expanding their reach through investment in new intellectual properties.