Helen Chiang, Xbox's first-ever chief operating officer, is leaving the role just three months after it was created. CEO Asha Sharma announced the departure in an internal memo, verified by IGN. "Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I'm grateful for her years of service and wish her well," Sharma wrote. "We'll share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized."
Chiang had spent 21 years at Xbox. She previously led the Minecraft franchise before moving into the COO role in July 2026. That appointment was presented as necessary as Xbox's headcount grew and the company became more fragmented, with the new role carrying end-to-end P&L responsibility across content, hardware, platform and services, reporting directly to Sharma.
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The reasons for her exit have not been disclosed. According to The Verge, her tenure in the position was remarkably brief, a striking move given her two decades at the company. Meanwhile, Xbox is expected to continue layoffs as part of its ongoing restructuring, with around 3,200 jobs expected to go this fiscal year.
The restructuring has already led to several studios being divested. Some have found their footing, such as Double Fine, while others remain in limbo. Arkane Lyon, the studio working on Marvel's Blade, faces closure as soon as mid-November if no buyer is found. According to Rock Paper Shotgun, citing a report by Le Monde, French law requires companies with more than 1,000 staff to search for a buyer for three months before closing a site, and up to 217 jobs at Arkane are at risk. Microsoft said it is "actively seeking a partner" to support the project.
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The wider industry is faring no better. EA announced the closure of BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, and cancelled the next Mass Effect game, prompting player outcry and calls for a boycott.
Chiang's replacement has not yet been announced, leaving Xbox's operational leadership in limbo.
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