In a major leadership change at Xbox Game Studios, Craig Duncan, the current head of Rare, has been named the new Xbox studios boss, replacing Alan Hartman, who is set to retire at the end of November. Duncan, who has been with Rare for nearly 14 years, will now oversee some of Xbox’s most prominent game development teams, including Halo Studios, Turn 10, Playground Games, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, and more.
Duncan’s Journey from Rare to Xbox Leadership
Duncan’s promotion follows a successful tenure at Rare, where he joined during the Kinect era and led the studio through one of its most significant modern releases, Sea of Thieves, which has since become a hit live-service game. His time at Rare saw the company transition to a service-based model, making Sea of Thieves one of the standout successes in Xbox’s online multiplayer portfolio.
Before joining Rare, Duncan held roles at several prominent studios, including Sumo Digital, Midway, and Codemasters, gaining experience in various sectors of the gaming industry. His deep understanding of game development and live-service operations has positioned him as a key player in Xbox’s strategy to push forward its game offerings.
In his new role, Duncan will oversee a wide array of Xbox game studios, including industry heavyweights like 343 Industries (the makers of Halo), The Coalition (Gears of War), Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport), and newer players like The Initiative and InXile Entertainment. With Xbox pushing to deliver more first-party content through its Game Pass service, Duncan’s leadership is expected to be crucial in shaping the next wave of blockbuster releases.
Alan Hartman’s Legacy at Microsoft
Alan Hartman, who was appointed head of Xbox Game Studios just last year, is retiring after a long and impactful career at Microsoft. Having joined the company in 1988 as a contractor in the early CD-ROM group, Hartman’s journey saw him rise through the ranks, contributing to some of the company’s most iconic titles. He worked on Age of Empires and Brute Force before becoming the head of Turn 10 Studios, where he spearheaded the creation of the Forza series.
Under Hartman’s leadership, Forza evolved into one of the world’s leading racing franchises, with both Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon regularly setting benchmarks for innovation and technical performance in the genre. Over the years, Hartman and his teams have delivered 13 titles under the Forza banner, pushing the limits of Xbox hardware and gaining critical acclaim in the process.
In addition to his work on Forza, Hartman played a pivotal role in advancing accessibility in gaming, helping to set new standards across the industry. His final months at Xbox saw the launch of several critically acclaimed games, with highly anticipated titles like Avowed, South of Midnight, and Fable also on the horizon.
Rare’s New Leadership: Joe Neate and Jim Hoth
Following Duncan’s departure from Rare, the studio will be led by Joe Neate and Jim Hoth. Neate, who has been with Rare since 2013, was instrumental in the development of Sea of Thieves, serving as the game’s executive producer. His deep familiarity with the project ensures a smooth transition for Rare’s ongoing live-service support for the title.
Jim Hoth, a 20-year veteran of Rare, was most recently the studio’s director and has played a key role in the studio’s broader operations. Together, Neate and Hoth will continue Rare’s legacy, which spans over 30 years of innovation and beloved franchises.
Xbox’s Future with Duncan at the Helm
Matt Booty, president of Xbox Game Content and Studios, praised both Hartman and Duncan in an email to staff, highlighting Hartman’s contributions and Duncan’s potential to drive the studios forward. Booty emphasized that Duncan will continue to focus on creating high-quality game experiences that can evolve into successful franchises, with a strong emphasis on investing in new intellectual properties (IPs).
As Duncan takes the reins, Xbox’s commitment to delivering diverse and groundbreaking games remains clear, with the goal of reaching more players globally. Fans of Xbox Game Studios can look forward to an exciting future with new IPs and franchises under Duncan’s leadership, building on the strong foundations laid by Hartman and others before him.
