Windows Central: Microsoft CVP and key Xbox innovator Kareem Choudhry is leaving after 26 years at the firm. Major changes coming to brand

[John Elden Ring]

• Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is leaving Microsoft as of today.
• Choudhry worked on some of Microsoft's most cutting-edge gaming tech, from Xbox Cloud Gaming to its recent AI efforts.
• Choudhry's exit is part of a wider Xbox leadership re-org, with new team members promoted, and new staff incoming.
• The leadership shake-up is designed to streamline processes and help Microsoft accelerate plans for growth for Xbox Game Pass, Xbox hardware, and beyond.

Microsoft's gaming org has grown to be one of the biggest contributors to Microsoft's overall revenue pie, with Xbox now outstripping Windows itself as one of the biggest drivers of income. That's in no small part thanks to the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, which counts Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty among various billion-dollar verticals for the gaming org.

To that end, Microsoft has been rapidly evolving how it thinks of gaming today, and for Xbox's future. That also means some leadership changes.


After 26 years of Microsoft tenure, our sources indicate that Kareem Choudhry is exiting the company. Choudhry might be known best to Xbox fans for the quote "it eats monsters for breakfast," in reference to the Xbox Series X, and "it's a monster" in reference to the Xbox One X. Indeed, Kareem was responsible for working on some of Microsoft's most cutting-edge projects, including developing the Xbox backwards compatibility layer, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft's new gaming AI division, known internally as XEmTech or Xbox's Emerging Tech team. Today is Choudhry's last day at Microsoft, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Source

 

[Johnic]

It's dead, Jim.

 

[Sunrise Ninja]

 

[Shadow2027]

Full multiplatform here we come

 

[Nhomnhom]

Everybody leaves except Phil Spencer.

 

[GachaMadeMeBroke]

That rando Xbox leak strikes again it seems lol Seems more and more from that leak is coming to fruition.

 

[xollowsob]

Microsoft transitioning to cloud based software only. It shouldnt be a shock as they did it with outlook and office.

 

[Thirty7ven]

lol so him leaving means MS wants to grow Xbox hardware? What?

This guy is a real idiot.

 

[Yurinka]

RIP

 

[Fenton]

 

[voke]

that discord leak even more accurate, all thats left is the full multiplat part. Cant wait for bots to cry about DOOM 3 hitting ps5

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

That rando Xbox leak strikes again it seems lol Seems more and more from that leak is coming to fruition.

It was never a random leak; that leak was 100% accurate but was so dense in the details that it sounded outlandish to many (especially Xbox diehards). People were expecting the leak to be confirmed during the Business Update which was never going to happen, but that never de-confirmed the leak itself.

Considering the guidance of Xbox console hardware sales this year, figures that Discord leak is 100% happening. In steps, but definitely happening. The full of it will likely be implemented by the middle of next year, if not the end of this year.

 

[Johnic]

It was never a random leak; that leak was 100% accurate but was so dense in the details that it sounded outlandish to many (especially Xbox diehards). People were expecting the leak to be confirmed during the Business Update which was never going to happen, but that never de-confirmed the leak itself.

Considering the guidance of Xbox console hardware sales this year, figures that Discord leak is 100% happening. In steps, but definitely happening. The full of it will likely be implemented by the middle of next year, if not the end of this year.

What did that leak say exactly?

 

[KvallyX]

I am at my job 25 years this year. Not sure how much longer I want to be here really. I am thinking we should sell our house and cabin and move south. I am so tired of the cold weather.

Hopefully he is moving on to something more enjoyable in life, travel or trying out an all new career. I know I am ready for one.

 

[Puff]

What did that leak say exactly?

 

[Dabaus]

What would the reaction be like if a PlayStation head of the the studio for the game you’re about to release just left and the next day a high up exec tied to things the base actually liked left.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

What did that leak say exactly?

 

[Wing84]

I guess it's retirement time. Congrats to whoever gets the promotion to take his place. Must be a nice bag.

 

[anonpuffs]

It was never a random leak; that leak was 100% accurate but was so dense in the details that it sounded outlandish to many (especially Xbox diehards). People were expecting the leak to be confirmed during the Business Update which was never going to happen, but that never de-confirmed the leak itself.

Considering the guidance of Xbox console hardware sales this year, figures that Discord leak is 100% happening. In steps, but definitely happening. The full of it will likely be implemented by the middle of next year, if not the end of this year.

I think it's likely that the OEM hardware transition will happen in 2026, I don't think 2 years is really enough to coordinate something like that. Lines up with what some leakers have talked about re: xbox launching their next hardware iteration a year or two early

 

[peter42O]

Considering that Microsoft decided to release their first party exclusives outside of Minecraft and Call of Duty, I don't see how any other changes could be more major then what they've already done.