Helen Chiang, Xbox's first-ever Chief Operating Officer, has departed the company just months after her promotion to the position under CEO Asha Sharma. Chiang's role was specifically tasked with overseeing the profitability of the Xbox division. Sharma confirmed Chiang's exit in a memo to staff, expressing gratitude for her "years of service" at Microsoft.
A spokesperson for Microsoft stated that the company does not comment on individual personnel matters. However, a source speaking to Eurogamer reported that Chiang was "terminated for policy violations." Tom Warren of The Verge corroborated this, indicating a policy violation led to her dismissal, though the specifics remain undisclosed.
Chiang joined Microsoft 20 years ago and played a significant role in the development of Xbox Live. She also managed Mojang and the Minecraft franchise. As COO, her mandate was to unify Xbox's businesses under a single operating model, focusing on strategic investment decisions, learning from outcomes, and accountability for results. Sharma noted that the Xbox business was in a precarious state when she took over, and Chiang faced a challenging road ahead.
Chiang's departure comes at a difficult time for Xbox. The division has seen a significant downturn in hardware sales, with the Xbox Series X|S consoles reaching an all-time September low in the US. The software side has also faced challenges, with Gears of War: E-Day reportedly underperforming. Furthermore, Xbox Game Pass is slated to increase in price and potentially decrease in value in November.
Sharma has indicated that an update regarding the COO position at Xbox will be shared at a later date, but no further details were provided. The exact reasons for Chiang's exit continue to be a subject of speculation.