Microsoft is promoting Rare studio lead Craig Duncan to the head of Xbox Game Studios, following the retirement of Alan Hartman. The change of leadership comes less than a year after Hartman took on the head of Xbox Game Studios role after Matt Booty was promoted to an expanded president of game content and studios position.

Xbox Game Studios has a new head as of today, with former Rare studio head Craig Duncan taking over the role - but who is he, anyhow?

Rare boss Craig Duncan has been promoted to head of Xbox Game Studios. Duncan, who’s led Rare for nearly 14 years, will replace Alan Hartman, who was appointed Xbox’s studios boss just last year, after previously leading Forza studio Turn 10.

The head of Xbox Game Studios Alan Hartman will retire from the company at the end of November, with Rare boss Craig Duncan taking over. Hartman is best known for leading Turn 10 and the Forza franchise since 2005, and stepped up to lead Xbox Game Studios last year. He's also worked on hit Microsoft franchises including Age of Empires and Fable.

Xbox Game Studios will soon be led by Rare studio head Craig Duncan as current boss Alan Hartman is retiring in November. Microsoft president of game content and studios Matt Booty told staff in an email obtained by The Verge that Hartman,

Craig Duncan, the head of Microsoft studio Rare, will become the new head of Xbox Game Studios as current boss Alan Hartman retires. Duncan has been studio head at Rare since 2011, overseeing the likes of Sea of Thieves and multiple Kinect games.