Xbox Boss On Cancelling Games: “Sometimes Business Decisions Have To Be Made”
Craig Duncan, the Head of Xbox Game Studios, recently offered crucial context regarding the stringent restructuring measures Microsoft implemented throughout 2025. This challenging period saw the closure of development studios, widespread staff reductions, and the subsequent cancellation of several high-profile game projects. Speaking in a new interview, Duncan acknowledged that making calls to stop development on anticipated titles, such as the *Perfect Dark* reboot and Rare’s *Everwild*, was exceptionally difficult for the company.
However, Duncan stressed that these painful decisions were ultimately viewed as necessary steps driven by executive strategy. When reflecting on the rationale behind the moves, he offered a frank assessment: “Sometimes business decisions have to be made, which have wide reach and impact.” He clarified that a significant part of his role involves rigorous portfolio reviews, and sometimes these assessments reveal that projects—regardless of their creative merit—cannot continue due to shifting corporate viability.
While leadership disliked having to execute the layoffs and closures, Duncan views the difficult year as a critical learning experience. He emphasized that the focus now shifts to establishing better consistency across the entire studio portfolio, aiming to prevent the need for such drastic interventions going forward. The overarching goal is ensuring that the difficult choices made in 2025 lead to greater stability and predictability for Xbox Game Studios’ future output.