Helen Chiang, who recently took on the newly established role of Xbox's chief operating officer, has departed from Microsoft. Her exit was announced today by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma in an internal memo, verified by The Verge.
Sharma stated in the memo, "Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I’m grateful for her years of service and wish her well." She added that further details regarding leadership for the COO position would be shared once plans are finalized.
Chiang had a long tenure at Xbox, serving the company for 21 years. Prior to her brief stint as COO, she was instrumental in leading the Minecraft franchise. Her promotion to chief operating officer occurred in July 2026, a move that followed news of significant restructuring within Xbox.
At the time of her promotion, Sharma had outlined the necessity of the COO role to "work toward a shared goal, make the right tradeoffs, and get things done" amidst Xbox's expanding headcount and perceived fragmentation. Sharma had indicated that Chiang, in this new capacity, would have end-to-end P&L responsibility across content, hardware, platform, and services, aiming to unify the company's businesses under a single operating model and clarify investment decisions.
While the specific reasons for Chiang's short tenure in this executive position have not been publicly disclosed, her departure comes at a turbulent time for Xbox. The company is undergoing a substantial restructuring that is expected to result in the layoff of 3,200 employees this year. This period has also seen the divestment of several studios, though some, like Double Fine, have managed to navigate the changes.
Other studios are facing more precarious futures. Arkane Lyon, currently developing Marvel's Blade, may face closure by mid-November if a buyer is not secured. The studio's situation is a point of concern for both fans and industry observers, especially given the impact of Microsoft's reshuffling on the project.
The broader gaming industry is also experiencing significant upheaval. This week alone saw EA announce the closure of BioWare, the celebrated RPG developer behind the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, after 30 years. The cancellation of the next Mass Effect game has led to widespread player disappointment and calls for an industry boycott. A leaked trailer for the canceled game further intensified fan reactions, though analysts suggest the likelihood of BioWare's intellectual property being sold or transferred to another studio is low. The Prime Video series adaptation of Mass Effect, however, remains in development.