Today, it has been announced that Kareem Choudhry, a 26-year veteran at Microsoft and the Corporate Vice President at Xbox, is stepping down. Choudhry played a significant role in the success of the Xbox brand by introducing features such as backwards compatibility, cloud gaming, and Microsoft’s AI capabilities. However, after a quarter of a century at Microsoft, he has decided to move on.
The news of Choudhry’s departure was first reported by Jez Corden from Windows Central, who also revealed other changes happening at Microsoft and Xbox. Following a major reorganization in October 2023, a new Xbox President was appointed, and further restructuring is expected.
Unexpected Departure
Image: IGN India
Choudhry’s departure from Microsoft comes as a surprise due to his significant impact on the growth of the Xbox brand. The reason for his departure has not been disclosed yet. Meanwhile, Microsoft is planning to relocate the AI team to enhance innovation by bringing it closer to the hardware ecosystem.
A new department called ‘Xbox Experiences and Platforms’ has been established within Microsoft to focus on optimizing the Xbox experience across consoles and PC platforms. Several strategic changes have been made within teams handling strategy, regulatory processes, advertising, and analytics. Although these changes may not be noticeable to end-users, they will have a significant impact on various aspects of the business.
As Microsoft shifts its focus towards new and emerging technologies, more changes are expected to occur. This news comes shortly after Microsoft laid off nearly 2,000 employees across Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and its own operations.
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