UPDATE, 2nd November: Helen Chiang has broken her silence to push back against Eurogamer’s claims that she was fired from Xbox for a policy violation. However, her statement does not deny that the was fired.

There has been some speculation about my abrupt departure from Microsoft, including claims that I was “fired for a policy violation”. That’s not accurate and while I won’t turn this into a play-by-play, silence should not be mistaken for agreement. What has been said about my departure, and what has been left unsaid, has created a picture of me that I hardly recognize. It’s important to me to set the record straight.

Chiang does not deny being let go by Xbox, just that Eurogamer’s claims of it being for a policy violation were “not accurate”, which is vague enough to be intriguing.

There was also speculation that Chiang had leaked information, perhaps even The Coalition’s $500 million budget. Chiang specifically denies leaking any information to journalists or press. She also states that she did not leave to join a competitor, nor did she “engage in discrimination, bullying, harassment, insider trading, embezzlement, or other fraudulent activity.” And finally, she says she did not leave because I was passed over promotion, and indeed even says she not sought out any bigger roles or responsibilities: I went where the company believed I was needed and where I could have the greatest impact. I did not ask for my most recent role, either. I was promoted into it in July.”

I believe in fairness, accountability, and holding ourselves to the standards we expect of others. Those standards only mean something when they’re applied consistently. I have serious concerns about how they were applied in my case, and I believe those concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

In many regards, Chiang’s statement has raised more questions and answered very little. She doesn’t deny being fired, but remains tight-lipped about what actually occured, except for offering some vague accusations about “concerns” over her treatment, although whether that is in reference to Xbox or the reports surrounding her are unknown.

ORIGINAL STORY: The other day Xbox announced that Helen Chiang, Xbox’s first-ever chief operating officer (COO), was leaving the company. This was surprising as she had gained the job just three months ago as part of Asha Sharma’s big regime changes, and has been with Xbox for 21 years.

“Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I’m grateful for her years of service and wish her well,” Sharma wrote in an oddly brief announcement.

This naturally sparked debate because this isn’t the first Xbox executive to leave the brand recently. Four months ago, Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, and Louise O’Connor, chief of staff, both left the company. Chiang leaving after just three months added to the speculation of problems within Xbox.

It turns out, though, things are both simpler and weirder. According to Eurogamer, a “source familiar with the situation” told them that Chiang was actually “terminated for policy violations”. Eurogamer does note that they have not been able to verify this claim independently.

Assuming the claim is true, though, it would explain the sudden departure after being given the promotion so recently.