Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, has made the announcement today that he will be leaving Microsoft after spending 22 years with the company.
Hryb initially joined Microsoft in 2001 as the editor-in-chief for MSN Music. However, two years later, he transitioned to the Xbox division and emerged as one of the recognizable faces of the growing console brand. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Hryb became closely associated with Xbox, with his image becoming inseparable from the brand.
Officially, Hryb held the position of product manager for Xbox and played a key role in developing Xbox’s achievement system and the console’s party chat system, both of which have since become industry standards.
While Hryb gained the most recognition during the Xbox 360 era, he remains one of the most prominent figures in the gaming industry. In response to the news, several influential figures in the industry extended their well wishes. Geoff Keighley, known for his role in Summer Games Fest and Opening Night Live, tweeted: “Thanks for all you have done over all these decades for our industry – still fondly remember hosting many Xbox launches with you.”
In January, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella announced company-wide changes that would result in a reduction of the workforce by 10,000 employees. A recent report by Geekwire highlighted a notification from Microsoft regarding the layoff of 276 workers across customer service, sales, and support teams. It is unclear whether Hryb was affected by these redundancies.
Hryb has not disclosed his plans for the future but mentioned that he intends to take some time off to spend with his family and enjoy the summer in Seattle.
In other news, roleplaying game Stray Gods has adjusted its release date to avoid conflicting with the upcoming Baldur’s Gate 3, which also shifted its release date to avoid clashing with the highly anticipated Starfield.