Xbox One X

Project: Xbox One X - a high-end Xbox One hardware revision delivering true 4K gaming and performance upgrades across the Xbox catalog.

Final Role / Title: QA Team Lead (contract) – led a team of 5-10 QA associates validating thousands of titles for Xbox One X compatibility and launch readiness.

What is Xbox One X?

The Xbox One X is a high-end hardware revision of the Xbox One, a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Built under the codename “Project Scorpio“, the Xbox One X was released in November 2017 with a 1 TB base model and a limited edition “Project Scorpio Edition” variant that features a unique green "Project Scorpio" inscription on the console and bundled controller.

Key features of the Xbox One X include:

  • True 4K Ultra HD Gaming

  • Spatial Sound

  • HDR - High Dynamic Range

  • 4K Game DVR

Role & Responsibilities

  • Led a QA team of 5-10 associates, delegating test plans and reviewing results to ensure coverage across thousands of titles slated for Xbox One X compatibility at launch.

  • Coordinated with hardware engineers, platform teams, and partner studios to validate performance and quality bars for high‑visibility titles like ‘Forza Motorsport 7’, ‘Assassin’s Creed: Origins’, and ‘Middle‑earth: Shadow of War’.

  • Improved small‑team workflows and lab processes, increasing throughput and reducing rework across quarterly milestones.

  • Onboarded and trained new team members on end‑to‑end QA methodologies and internal tools, helping the team scale quickly to meet aggressive launch timelines.

Challenges, Learnings, & Career Impact

Stepping into a team lead role so quickly was both a challenge and a defining moment in my early career. I had to rapidly adapt from an individual contributor mindset to leading a small team while still supporting my original lead in parallel. The Xbox One X program moved at an intense pace, with new directives, shifting priorities, and updated test requirements arriving daily from engineering and leadership.

This environment forced me to develop strong communication habits early - absorbing complex program updates, breaking them down into clear, actionable plans, and ensuring my team understood not just what needed to be done, but why it mattered for the broader launch effort. I learned how to maintain team focus amid constant change, how to surface risks quickly, and how to keep execution steady even when requirements evolved hour by hour.

These experiences became foundational to my leadership style. By translating ambiguity into clarity and aligning my team around shared goals, we consistently exceeded expected output and delivered above the established quality bars for our milestones. This was the first time I saw how effective communication, structured workflows, and steady team guidance could directly influence program success - skills that continue to shape my work as a Senior Producer and Technical Program Manager today.

Where to get Xbox One X

The Xbox One X was originally released to all major online and physical retailers in November 2017 (current availability may vary).

Xbox One X - Links & Media