Turn 10 founder Dan Greenawalt leaves studio after 27 years at Microsoft
Greenawalt is retiring from Microsoft and will first advise Michel Bastien, Playground Games' new chief operating officer, an internal memo says.
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Turn 10 Studios founder, director and vice president Dan Greenawalt has left the studio after 27 years at Microsoft. Playground Games studio head Trevor Williams said in an internal memo that Greenawalt had decided to retire from Microsoft. Eurogamer cited the memo, first reported by The Verge.
His studio departure follows Microsoft’s 22 September 2026 announcement that Turn 10 and Playground Games would become one studio focused on the Forza and Fable game franchises. The announcement was in a message to Xbox employees signed Matt.
A longtime Forza partnership
Turn 10 developed the Forza Motorsport games, while Playground Games developed Forza Horizon. Their collaboration dates back to Playground’s first project, Forza Horizon, announced in 2012 and released that October with Turn 10's involvement.
Microsoft said the reorganization aimed to strengthen its games by operating fewer business units, bringing groups that already worked closely together into one team and concentrating its publishing expertise.
An advisory role before retirement
Microsoft established Turn 10 in 2001 to develop the racing series that became Forza. Williams credited Greenawalt with founding the studio, leading Forza’s creation and shipping Project Gotham Racing that year.
On behalf of both teams, I would like to thank Dan for his leadership, his support, and his partnership.
Greenawalt will serve temporarily as an adviser to Michel Bastien, Playground Games' new chief operating officer, before formally leaving Microsoft, Shacknews said, also citing the memo obtained by The Verge.
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Sources
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- EurogamerForza director, who'd been with Turn 10 for 27 years leaves Microsoft, following studios merger with Playground Games
- news.xbox.comContinuing Our Reset - XBOX Wire
- shacknews.comTurn 10 Studios head Dan Greenawalt retiring after 27 years at Microsoft | Shacknews
- en.wikipedia.orgPlayground Games
- en.wikipedia.orgTurn 10 Studios