Craig Duncan of Rare is set to take over as head of Xbox Game Studios following the retirement of Alan Hartman

Alan Hartman, who currently heads Xbox Game Studios, is set to step down at the end of November. Craig Duncan, currently leading Rare, will succeed him.

Hartman, known for founding Turn 10 in 2005 and developing the renowned Forza series, advanced last year to oversee Xbox Game Studios. Throughout his 36-year tenure in the gaming industry, he has been instrumental in major Microsoft franchises like Age of Empires and Fable.

Taking over from Hartman, Duncan has been at the forefront of Rare for about 14 years, managing projects like Kinect and the highly popular Sea of Thieves, which boasts over 40 million players since its 2018 debut.

During September, he appeared at the 2024 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards, where Rare received three accolades.

Before his tenure at Rare, Duncan filled various leadership slots at companies such as Sumo Digital, Midway, and Codemasters. Additionally, he serves as VP for the charity SpecialEffect.

In his upcoming role, Duncan will supervise teams under Xbox including those at Halo Studios, The Coalition, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, and others. His reporting line will be to Matt Booty, who is the president of Game Content and Studios.

Joe Neate and Jim Horth will succeed Duncan at Rare. Neate, joining Rare in 2013, excelled as the executive producer for Sea of Thieves. He also held senior positions at Sumo Digital and Midway. Horth, involved with Rare for more than two decades, most recently served as studio director.

Matt Booty praised Hartman's career saying, "Alan's journey was characterized by innovation and a deep passion for gaming." Starting at Microsoft in 1988, Hartman contributed to several projects like Age of Empires and helped in founding Turn 10, resulting in the production of several Forza games. Under his leadership, advancements in gaming accessibility were achieved, and Xbox Game Studios released numerous critically acclaimed titles. Upcoming titles were set up for successful launches.

In his LinkedIn post, Hartman stated: "Being a Studio Head in Gaming ranks among the most fulfilling and challenging roles in entertainment. It has been an honor to represent Xbox Game Studios and collaborate with immense talent across XGS. I am excited by our upcoming projects, like Avowed, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and more in progress. My confidence in these studios' future accomplishments is strong as Craig Duncan transitions into the head position."

Booty further commented: "In his new position, Craig will continue focusing on cultivating successful franchises by delivering distinctive game experiences and expanding player reach through new IP investment."