Microsoft names Rare's Louise O’Connor as chief of staff at Xbox Game Studios

• O’Connor joins after 25 years at Rare, rising from animator to executive producer.
• At Rare, she led new IP Everwild before its cancellation during Microsoft’s mass layoffs.
• Plans for an Xbox mobile game store remain on hold due to Apple’s restrictive App Store policies.

Microsoft has appointed development veteran Louise O'Connor as the new chief of staff at Xbox Game Studios.

As reported by Video Games Chronicle, O'Connor took the role in August, which will see her focus on fostering collaboration across Xbox Game Studios while supporting leaders and teams.

She takes the job after 25 years at Rare, where she rose from animator in 1999 to executive producer.

At the UK studio, O’Connor led development on new IP Everwild until its cancellation amid Microsoft’s mass layoffs and studio closures that affected over 9,000 staff.

Xbox mobile store delay

Earlier this year, Microsoft teamed up with ASUS to launch the ROG Xbox Ally handheld which is available in standard and high-powered “X” models.

However, its Xbox mobile game store remains delayed due to Apple’s restrictive App Store policies, which the company criticised in a legal filing supporting Epic Games.

Despite a US ruling against Apple’s anti-steering rules, Microsoft remains wary, warning that an appeal could restore restrictions and threaten its plans for an Xbox store on iOS.