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[Draugoth]

• Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is leaving Microsoft as of today.
• Choudhry worked on some of Microsoft's most cutting-edge gaming tech, from Xbox Cloud Gaming to its recent AI efforts.
• Choudhry's exit is part of a wider Xbox leadership re-org, with new team members promoted, and new staff incoming.
• The leadership shake-up is designed to streamline processes and help Microsoft accelerate plans for growth for Xbox Game Pass, Xbox hardware, and beyond.

Microsoft's gaming org has grown to be one of the biggest contributors to Microsoft's overall revenue pie, with Xbox now outstripping Windows itself as one of the biggest drivers of income. That's in no small part thanks to the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, which counts Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty among various billion-dollar verticals for the gaming org.

To that end, Microsoft has been rapidly evolving how it thinks of gaming today, and for Xbox's future. That also means some leadership changes.


After 26 years of Microsoft tenure, our sources indicate that Kareem Choudhry is exiting the company. Choudhry might be known best to Xbox fans for the quote "it eats monsters for breakfast," in reference to the Xbox Series X, and "it's a monster" in reference to the Xbox One X. Indeed, Kareem was responsible for working on some of Microsoft's most cutting-edge projects, including developing the Xbox backwards compatibility layer, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft's new gaming AI division, known internally as XEmTech or Xbox's Emerging Tech team. Today is Choudhry's last day at Microsoft, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Source

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

So dedicated R&D in Xbox is basically dead.

Tells you a lot.

 

[Interfectum]

They do more Xbox exec shuffles than game releases.

 

[LordCBH]

Like a (green) rat fleeing a leaving a sinking ship.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Out with the old guard, in with the new. It's clear as day that Spencer's days are numbered, the entire division is pivoting its market strategy hard.

But whose vision is being implemented at MS? Seems rudderless at the moment.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Can’t wait for Sarah Bond to take over, seeing any scrutiny or criticism brushed off as misogyny and racism. It will be as bad as the Spencer era .

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Chorizo was right

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Can’t wait for Sarah Bond to take over, seeing any scrutiny or criticism brushed off as misogyny and racism. It will be as bad as the Spencer era .

i didn't want to go there. but...

 

[digoutyoursoul]

i didn't want to go there. but...

It’s true and you know it

 

[Ozriel]

So dedicated R&D in Xbox is basically dead.

Tells you a lot.

Yes. that guy was in fact the only person employed in R&D at Xbox

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Yes. that guy was in fact the only person employed in R&D at Xbox

Oh, he was just another nobody for you, green folks.

 

[Pelta88]

Remaining R&D department looking at Phil Spencer right now like...

 

[Topher]

Feels like the wrong people are leaving and the wrong people are staying

 

[Three]

Out with the old guard, in with the new. It's clear as day that Spencer's days are numbered, the entire division is pivoting its market strategy hard.

But whose vision is being implemented at MS? Seems rudderless at the moment.

Phil makes $10M a year doing a questionable job. His days should have been numbered years ago but I doubt they are.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Feels like the wrong peope are leaving and the wrong people are staying

Perfect summary, really.

 

[Hudo]

They do more Xbox exec shuffles than game releases.

They do release shit frequently on Steam tho. E.g. Age of Mythology: Retold got a showing recently that confirmed a 2024 release. Pretty excited about it. Also, the Dune DLC for MS Flight Sim is dope.

 

[Ozriel]

Oh, he was just another nobody for you, green folks.

Comprehension is hard, eh?
Quote in the OP says he built an emerging tech team.

Phil makes $10M a year doing a questionable job. His days should have been numbered years ago but I doubt they are.

Looks like his days are numbered, tbh. They’re putting Bond front and center a whole lot these days. Clear transition in the works.

The sooner the better, imho, but i don’t expect him to last the gen.

 

[Punished Miku]

Anyone responsible for BC, cloud integration, and all the system level features is great in my book. That's the best stuff.

Hard to know what this really means until we see the direction of their next console. If its some kind of PC hybrid model it would be an improvement, even if this guy did great work on the consoles according to this summary. Just have to see what's happening over the next couple years. Might be Xbox is being moved under the umbrella of the PC / AI side more closely.

Most MS employees are lifers, and 26 years is a long time. Even Bonnie Ross stayed and wasn't let go. Might be he is choosing to move on.

 

[OverHeat]

 

[Daneel Elijah]

The article is less damning than the resume. Jason Ronald, the guy with the big beard is still there according to Corden. And at the end he said that the reason for this departure is "circumstantial" instead of planned. We all know that 343i leader Bonnie Ross left for "family reasons" but maybe this time it's true.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Comprehension is hard, eh?

He was head of Emerging Tech and created a lot of truly awesome stuff that defined Xbox, BC included.

Now everything is smashed into HW division because you don't need people like Kareem if you're not sure about your future.

 

[Loomy]

So dedicated R&D in Xbox is basically dead.

Tells you a lot.

R&D isn't dead, but it's sounding like they're no longer going to have an Xbox specific team. They're going to be folded into the Microsoft hardware team.

Edit: Which, upon re-reading your post, is what you meant. And you're right. It does tell you a lot.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Feels like the wrong people are leaving and the wrong people are staying

Depends on what you consider to be "wrong".

If you expected Xbox to continue being a platform-holder as we're used to, well...

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

R&D isn't dead, but it's sounding like they're no longer going to have an Xbox specific team. They're going to be folded into the Microsoft hardware team.

The word dedicated is there for a reason, I guess.

 

[Topher]

Depends on what you consider to be "wrong".

If you expected Xbox to continue being a platform-holder as we're used to, well...

I fully expect that

 

[solidus12]

The “eats monsters for breakfast” guy.

 

[Loomy]

The word dedicated is there for a reason, I guess.

Noticed after and edited my post.

 

[MisterXDTV]

Jez Corden:

 

[Ozriel]

He was head of Emerging Tech and created a lot of truly awesome stuff that defined Xbox, BC included.

He’d also spent over 2.5 decades at Microsoft and his departure is reported as an amicable split. Everyone has to move on sometime.

Now everything is smashed into HW division because you don't need people like Kareem if you're not sure about your future.

R&D isn't dead, but it's sounding like they're no longer going to have an Xbox specific team. They're going to be folded into the Microsoft hardware team.

The article certainly doesn’t say the Xbox specific team isn’t going to exist. It’s just being moved into a different reporting lineup (the general Hardware org). Most likely the team remains the same, just reporting to a different sub organization.

 

[Darsxx82]

Feels like the wrong people are leaving and the wrong people are staying

It's funny because the people who have been promoted/signed are precisely the ones who identify most with the possibility (I think desired by you) of an XBOX handlead and XBOX OS.....

That which. We are always criticizing when there are people who do not meet expectations or fail at their job and still remain in office.... and then we criticize and point out as bad when they are fired.

In the end it's like everything. How good or bad you are at your job will be dictated by how well or badly those who replace you do.

 

[Darkness_Arises]

Feels like the wrong people are leaving and the wrong people are staying

No kidding, I have no idea how Greenberg or Booty still have a job.

 

[Darsxx82]

Anyone responsible for BC, cloud integration, and all the system level features is great in my book. That's the best stuff.

Hard to know what this really means until we see the direction of their next console. If its some kind of PC hybrid model it would be an improvement, even if this guy did great work on the consoles according to this summary. Just have to see what's happening over the next couple years. Might be Xbox is being moved under the umbrella of the PC / AI side more closely.

Most MS employees are lifers, and 26 years is a long time. Even Bonnie Ross stayed and wasn't let go. Might be he is choosing to move on.

Simply this. First we have to know what their strategy/thoughts are with the XBOX hardware and then check if it was/were the right ones.

 

[iamvin22]

Everyone to blame but 1 person. Are we sure we got everyone?!?

 

[Punished Miku]

No kidding, I have no idea how Greenberg or Booty still have a job.

Greenberg is a marketing juggernaut. They even had Xbox Oreos, Xbox Legos, Starfield/Forza Doritos, Xbox controllers made of chocolate, Xbox at Taco Bell, Xbox Refrigerators. That shit is everywhere. The guy is signing deals left and right, most of them probably cheaper than TV commercials. And they have a large presence on social media that generates attention practically anytime they tweet anything. People still are obsessing about his tweets from 2020.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Everyone to blame but 1 person. Are we sure we got everyone?!?

I think people have a hard time accepting that Xbox isn’t going to be the same going forward.

Sarah Bond didn't say their goal is to become the #1 publisher for nothing.

 

[Topher]

It's funny because the people who have been promoted/signed are precisely the ones who identify most with the possibility (I think desired by you) of an XBOX handlead and XBOX OS.....

That which. We are always criticizing when there are people who do not meet expectations or fail at their job and still remain in office.... and then we criticize and point out as bad when they are fired.

In the end it's like everything. How good or bad you are at your job will be dictated by how well or badly those who replace you do.

I'm not saying Xbox needs changes in leadership across the board. I think they are worse off with folks like Ybarra and Choudhry leaving and Matt Booty staying (as well as Greenberg, but he's more of annoyance than anything else). I wouldn't think Booty would be the guy to have much of anything to do with an Xbox handheld or OS. God......I hope not.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

i didn't want to go there. but...

It sure feels designed this way.

 

[THE DUCK]

Welcome to GAF, where it's impossible to win!

Scenario 1:
GAF: Xbox needs leadership changes, fire them all, make changes! Sinking ship!

MS: Hold fast, the team is great! Bring out some new stuff!

GAF: See, told you it was failing! Green rats are dying! Losers!


Scenario 2:
GAF: Xbox needs leadership changes, fire them all, make changes! Sinking ship!

MS: Making changes!

GAF: See, told you it was failing! Green rats are dying! Losers!

 

[BoxFresh123]

"general Xbox hardware org, which is led by Roanne Sones. Sones is famed for her tenure as an OEM expert on the Windows division"

Lends any credence to the idea of OEM Xbox machines?

 

[rm082e]

Welcome to GAF, where it's impossible to win!

Scenario 1:
GAF: Xbox needs leadership changes, fire them all, make changes! Sinking ship!

MS: Hold fast, the team is great! Bring out some new stuff!

GAF: See, told you it was failing! Green rats are dying! Losers!


Scenario 2:
GAF: Xbox needs leadership changes, fire them all, make changes! Sinking ship!

MS: Making changes!

GAF: See, told you it was failing! Green rats are dying! Losers!

 

[Krappadizzle]

They do more Xbox exec shuffles than game releases.

 

[Kacho]

Damn end of an era. Hard not to be cynical about this news. Time will tell I guess.

 

[The Pleasure]

Chorizo was right

I'm at a restaurant and ordering a plate or chorizon con frijoles in your honor!

 

[Topher]

Redfall team in action

 

[Darsxx82]

I'm not saying Xbox needs changes in leadership across the board. I think they are worse off with folks like Ybarra and Choudhry leaving and Matt Booty staying. I wouldn't think Booty would be the guy to have much of anything to do with an Xbox handheld or OS. God......I hope not.

Well, I definitely understand perfectly who, given the situation of confusion and lack of clarity on XBOX, any movement of these characteristics makes them skeptical. I only specified this specific movement and how incongruous the reactions are when movements of this type occur.

The thing is that each one is dedicated to a different job. Botty has not been responsible for hardware, R&D, marketing, etc... even though I personally also think he should have had the same ending as Choudhry.

Ybarra is curious and an example of what I were saying. A majority opinion was that he was Blizard's main problem and that under him everything was worse and with continuous controversy with employees. He, was suddenly, considered a fundamental piece and his departure was a mistake.

Regarding Choudhry, as I say, time will tell if his departure and new substitute is the correct decission or not but Xbox needed changes in that section.

Speaking of the possibility of a Xbox Handlhed/XBOX OS and a XBOX hardware more open..... So I think that, for that possibility, the feeling should be that with Roanne Soane it is closer. Then how it is executed or if it is successful, time will tell.

 

[mckmas8808]

Can’t wait for Sarah Bond to take over, seeing any scrutiny or criticism brushed off as misogyny and racism. It will be as bad as the Spencer era .

There maybe some of that. And I'm sure she'll get sexist and racist things said about her. But I doubt the majority will say that about Sarah or people that don't like Sarah.

 

[mckmas8808]

It sure feels designed this way.

Designed? Come on now. Sarah deserves where she is. And if MS is going 3rd party within the next 3 years, it'll make even more sense why she's going up the exec charts.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

There maybe some of that. And I'm sure she'll get sexist and racist things said about her. But I doubt the majority will say that about Sarah or people that don't like Sarah.

There will always be a few bigoted dickheads . People twist things tho and you just know some of the more outspoken in the Xbox community particularly the awful influencers will try it, a comment by an idiot or two will be used against any criticism to shame a larger group of people

To a far lesser extent is an example of how sly they can be is when people compare Xbox to PlayStation , these influencers and ambassador tyoes label it as “console war” in derogatory tones to put people off because deep down they know they don’t compare too well to the competition.

A lot of slimeballs out there dude

 

[LordCBH]

One thing I have to ask again:
How the fuck do Matt Bootylicious and Aaron Greenberg still have jobs? Both of them are actually incompetent at their jobs and make their entire organization worse.

The wrong people are leaving/getting let go

 

[DAHGAMING]

Haha were going to be even stronger now, the Xbox powerhouse keeps moving on and crushing anyone in our way