Xbox’s brand-new COO already leaves Microsoft after three months
Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft three months after becoming Xbox’s first chief operating officer. CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the departure in an internal…
Xbox's brand-new COO already is leaving Microsoft, with Helen Chiang’s departure coming just three months after she took the newly created role. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the move in an internal memo circulated on 23rd October, according to Eurogamer.
The departure leaves the company without its first chief operating officer while Xbox continues a broad restructuring. The company has not explained why Chiang is leaving, and says it will share more about leadership plans once they are finalised.
Chiang had worked at Microsoft for 21 years and previously led Minecraft. Sharma wrote in the memo: “Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I'm grateful for her years of service and wish her well.”
Xbox gave Eurogamer a brief statement after the outlet contacted the company: “We don't discuss individual personnel matters. We're grateful for Helen's years of service and wish her well”.
COO role created during Xbox reset
Sharma created the COO position in July as part of what the company called a “reset”. At the time, she said the role was intended to help Xbox “work toward a shared goal, make the right tradeoffs, and get things done”.
The change came alongside a restructuring that included 3200 layoffs and four studio departures, described in Eurogamer’s report as the most significant restructuring in Xbox history. The leadership change now raises a practical question for staff and studios: who will coordinate the work that had been assigned to the COO?
Eurogamer reported that Chiang’s duties are expected to be shared among other Xbox executives. Sharma said the company would provide more information as plans take shape, but did not name a successor or set out how responsibilities would be divided.
The departures and organizational changes affect more than the executive structure. Microsoft said Double Fine, Undead Labs and Compulsion Games would become independent following negotiations. Ninja Theory, the studio behind Hellblade, was reported as likely to close after two acquisition deals fell through.
Arkane Lyon remained in limbo in Eurogamer’s account. The outlet reported that the studio had until November to find a buyer, citing a report it had learned about the previous day. The source did not provide further details about a possible buyer or the outcome.
Company gives no reason for Chiang’s exit
A verified source familiar with the situation separately told Eurogamer that Chiang had allegedly been “terminated for policy violations”. Eurogamer said it could not independently verify that claim. Xbox’s statement did not address the allegation, and Sharma’s memo gave no reason for Chiang’s departure.
That distinction matters: the company has confirmed Chiang is leaving, but the reported explanation remains unverified. No further details about the circumstances were included in the company’s public statement.
Sharma’s next update is expected to clarify how Xbox will handle COO leadership once its plans are finalised.
Source: eurogamer.net
