Xbox's Kudo Tsunoda moves to new role at Microsoft

Microsoft corporate vice president Kudo Tsunoda, the creative director for Kinect who assumed leadership of multiple Xbox development teams earlier this year, is moving to a new role at the company, one that's outside the Xbox group. Tsunoda's new role, corporate vice president of Windows Apps Studio, will focus on applications across multiple Microsoft products, including Microsoft Edge and HoloLens.

The change was announced by Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group, in an email to employees today.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, Tsunoda's new role will focus on improving human interaction methods, like voice and gesture, on Windows-powered devices and applications.

Replacing Tsunoda in his leadership role at Microsoft Studios are Hanno Lemke and Shannon Loftis. The two will now report directly to Phil Spencer, head of Xbox.

Lemke is currently general manager of Microsoft Studios Europe, overseeing European studios Lionhead, Lift London, Press Play and Rare. He previously led Gears of War studio The Coalition (née Black Tusk). Loftis, general manager of Microsoft Studios Publishing, will now oversee the development teams behind Xbox titles Quantum Break, ReCore, Scalebound and Crackdown 3.