Summary
Venerated Microsoft andXboxpersonality Major Nelson has joined a new company. The 65-year-old, whose real name is Larry Hryb, has decided to remain in the gaming industry with the goal of further developing it.
Hyrb spent more than 20 years at Microsoft andXboxbefore he announced in July that he had stepped down as the latter’s director of corporate communications. He played key roles in the development of the original Xbox Live online service, the legendary Xbox 360, and the Xbox One, among other things. After such an eventful professional journey, Hryb decided to move on from Xbox to work on the next chapter of his career. Now it’s known what that new chapter is.
In a December 12 post on Twitter, newly launched publisher Midwest Games announced that Hryb had joined the company. Specifically, the former Xbox director has become a part of the Wisconsin-based entity’s advisory board as a communications advisor,Forbesreported. Hryb joined fellow video game industry veterans Alyssa Walles and Gina Joseph in Midwest Games, where the trio supposedly intend to build more opportunities for underserved creators and regions in the space. Hryb admitted in the past that small,indie projects were difficult to promote even for Microsoft, so he and his new team must have some fresh new ideas on how to reach their goals.
With the talent it has absorbed, Midwest Games may have raised the expectations for its upcoming debut release,Ra Ra Boom. Developed by Gylee Games from Cincinnati, Ohio,Ra Ra Boomis described as a fast-paced beat ‘em up that can be played cooperatively by up to four players. Fortunately,Ra Ra Boom’s marketing has been very humble and the expectations the game’s trailer has set are very grounded. As with the recentdisastrous fall ofThe Day Beforedeveloper Fntastichas demonstrated recently, it is never a good idea to oversell a product.
Hryb’s move to becoming an advisor following his long stint at Microsoft and Xbox is not uncommon path in the industry. Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, for example, ended up joining the board of directors of struggling retail chain GameStop after his retirement in 2019.Fils-Aimé would ultimately leave GameStopover communication issues even as the company’s profits started to rise.
In addition to Midwest Games, Hryb revealed he has also started to work with the advisory boards of other companies. While Hryb did not disclose the other boards he joined, it would not be too unlikely for him to have started working with his former employers again.Hryb did spend more than two decades at Microsoft and Xbox, after all. With what he has contributed to theXboxbrand, Hryb would probably be welcomed with open arms should he make any sort of return there.
