Xbox CEO confirms Helen Chiang is leaving after three months as COO

This is a new development in a story we reported earlier: Helen Chiang leaves Xbox COO role after three months at Microsoft.

Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma informed staff through an internal memo that Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft after about three months as Xbox chief operating officer. Microsoft appointed Chiang to the newly created COO position in July 2026 during a broad restructuring effort at Xbox.

Tom Warren of The Verge first reported the departure on Oct. 23, 2026, based on an internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. The memo was reportedly spotted by The Verge and served as the initial announcement of the departure to employees.

In the memo, Sharma wrote, “Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I’m grateful for her years of service and wish her well.” The note confirmed Chiang’s departure to staff while offering thanks for her years of service.

Chiang had worked at Microsoft for more than 21 years before her departure. She spent nearly six years as head of the Mojang studio for Minecraft.

As COO, Chiang was tasked with managing end-to-end profit and loss across Xbox services, hardware, platform, and content. This responsibility was part of the mandate given to her when the new role was established in July 2026. The COO position was created by CEO Asha Sharma in July 2026 as part of the ‘Resetting XBOX’ restructuring.

Xbox is undergoing a restructuring titled ‘Resetting XBOX’ which aims to reduce approximately 3,200 roles during the 2027 fiscal year. CEO Asha Sharma announced the initiative in July 2026; it created the chief operating officer position and aims to reshape Xbox’s operating structure. The plan also involves moving four studios to different management.

Chiang’s immediate responsibilities are being handled by other Xbox leaders. Sharma noted that further details regarding the leadership of the COO position will be shared once plans are finalized.

The future of the Xbox chief operating officer position will be announced at a later date, according to Sharma’s memo about Chiang’s departure. The memo provided no timeline for replacing Chiang or determining whether the COO role would be filled, leaving the position’s future uncertain after her departure.

TheGamer reports that Helen Chiang’s departure was a termination resulting from policy violations, though Microsoft has not confirmed this. Xbox communications vice president Kari Perez stated that the company does not comment on individual personnel matters regarding Chiang’s exit, issuing the statement to The Verge while declining to provide specific details about the reasons for the departure.

The restructuring also moved four studios to new management.

Rumors suggest Xbox is preparing further layoffs in October 2026, November 2026, and January 2027, according to reporting by The Verge. These rumored upcoming layoffs would continue the pattern of workforce reduction that began in July.