UPDATE 6.00pm (UK): In a proper assertion, Xbox instructed Eurogamer: “We do not talk about particular person personnel issues. We’re grateful for Helen’s years of service and want her properly”.
A verified supply acquainted with the state of affairs individually instructed Eurogamer that Helen Chiang had allegedly been “terminated for coverage violations”. Eurogamer has not been capable of independently confirm this declare.
Unique story follows.
ORIGINAL STORY 2.00pm BST: Helen Chiang, Xbox’s first-ever chief working officer (COO), is leaving Microsoft simply three months after taking the job.
Based on The Verge, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed Chiang’s departure in an inner memo circulated on twenty third October.
“Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft at the moment. I am grateful for her years of service and want her properly,” Sharma wrote.
Sharma supplied no particulars on why Chiang – who’d been at Microsoft for 21 years and had beforehand served as head of Minecraft – was leaving the corporate, solely including, “we’ll share extra on COO management as plans are finalised”. It is thought her duties can be shared between different Xbox execs.
Sharma created the function in July as a part of Xbox’s huge “reset”, saying it was wanted to “work towards a shared purpose, make the appropriate tradeoffs, and get issues executed”. It additionally got here with 3200 layoffs and 4 studio departures in “most important” Xbox restructuring in historical past.
Microsoft revealed that Psychonauts developer Double Nice, State of Decay studio Undead Labs, and South of Midnight developer Compulsion Video games would go impartial following negotiations, whereas Hellblade developer Ninja Concept is now more likely to shut after two acquisition offers fell by way of.
Arkane Lyon – the beloved immersive sim studio behind the likes of Dishonored and Deathloop – is the one nonetheless in limbo, and yesterday we discovered it reportedly solely has till November to discover a purchaser.