Kinect Director Kudo Tsunoda has left Microsoft's Xbox team, as he has been appointed as the corporate vice president of Windows Apps Studio.
The Windows Apps Studio focuses on the development of applications for Microsoft devices and services, including the Surface and Xbox products as well as services for the Microsoft Edge browser and the HoloLens. As part of his new role, Tsunoda will now oversee the progress of the new applications, particularly concentrating on human interaction, such as voice and gesture controls.
"On the heels of the successful release of the November update for Windows 10 and the New Xbox One Experience, Microsoft added two new members to the Windows and Devices Group Leadership Team," a Microsoft spokesperson tells GameSpot, referring to Tsunoda and Chuck Friedman, the new corporate vice president of Windows Shell Program Management.
Tsunoda was promoted to a bigger role in the Xbox team earlier this year on March 9, where he became one of the creative leads in the development of the HoloLens. Moving forward, Hanno Lemke and Shannon Loftis will now take over Tsunoda's previous leadership role in the Xbox team, where the pair will report directly to Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer.
Lemke will now move from his duties as general manager of Microsoft Studios Europe, where he oversaw studios such as Press Play, Lift London, Kinect Sports developer Rare and Fable creator Lionhead.
On the other hand, Loftis will now move from his responsibility as general manager of Microsoft Studios Publishing and will now manage the development of various Xbox titles such as Crackdown 3, Scalebound, ReCore and Quantum Break.
Executive Vice President of Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group Terry Myerson broke the news via email to employees.
With the recent developments, it seems that we won't be seeing much of Tsunoda at press events or interviews for a while, but we can expect improved experiences on Windows 10 and Microsoft devices.
