Craig Duncan is a game maker and accomplished leader with a games industry career spanning more than two decades and counting.
Craig has led several game studios as well as overseen the development of many critically acclaimed and commercially successful video games. His leadership of complex, multi-studio projects has not only brought commercial success but also changed the landscape of the UK video games sector.
Craig is Head of Xbox Games Studios, leading a diverse, global, world-class studios organisation for Microsoft, which includes some of the most recognised and successful video game franchises and game studios in the world such as Halo, Gears of War, Forza and more.
Craig joined Microsoft in 2011 to lead Rare, one of the UK's leading game studios. Rare has been recognised with multiple achievements for its impact to the games industry, most credibly by GamesIndustry.biz as being one of the Best Places to Work in the last three years and receiving a special award for Health and Wellbeing and impact to both Environmental and Diversity.
Rare's games have a legacy going back nearly 40 years and under Craig's leadership the studio has gone from strength to strength with the BAFTA-award-winning and globally successful Kinect Sports franchise, Rare Replay which in 2015 collected 30 years of Rare history capturing a significant piece of historical game preservation, that was commercially relevant and made Rare games playable in their original context with extra materials and content providing insights on the creation of beloved games.
Most notably during his stewardship Rare has produced one of the most successful new game IPs in the last 10 years, the BAFTA-award-winning Sea of Thieves is a multi-platform success with more than 40 million players. The truly unique nature of Sea of Thieves as a game attracted a partnership with Disney featuring characters from Pirates of the Caribbean mixing with the lore and stories of Sea of Thieves as part of its ongoing evolving nature. Sea of Thieves is still going strong today and has cultivated a vast community of players who have formed friendships and made memories through their fun and adventures on the virtual Seas together.
Prior to joining Rare in 2011 Craig held various senior roles at companies including Codemasters, Midway Games and Sumo Digital where he significantly contributed to the growth and diversification of their gaming portfolios.
Alongside his professional accomplishments, Craig is celebrated for his engagement with the broader gaming community including mentoring studio leaders, sharing insights and fostering discussions that contribute to the industry's continual evolution. He has delivered talks and keynote speeches internationally. His career serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring professionals in the games industry.
His forward-thinking approach and dedication have played a pivotal role in shaping the modern landscape of the gaming industry, showcasing a deep understanding of how to blend leadership, creativity, technology, and business acumen. Craig is also a proud VP and active fundraiser of the BAFTA-winning nonprofit SpecialEffect, whose mission is to help people across the world with physical challenges to find enjoyment, inclusion and improve their quality of life through video games and technology.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Technology honoris causa (Hon DTech) is bestowed upon Craig in recognition of more than two decades of experience at the helm of prominent gaming enterprises.
The award recognises him as an influential, pioneering figure whose work has significantly impacted the games industry, paving the way for the new generation of interactive entertainment. Since taking the reins at Rare he has successfully led with creativity and ingenuity, establishing the studio as a bastion of innovation in the global gaming community.
The award acknowledges how his commitment to excellence and passion for gaming has not only facilitated the growth of Rare but significantly contributed to elevating the entire gaming industry to new heights. Moreover, his willingness to share his extensive knowledge through lectures, interviews and community engagement exemplifies a genuine commitment to nurturing the next generation of industry professionals and the need to foster and develop talent.