Gaming Industry Updates: March 2026 | Notable Departures and New Appointments

The gaming industry has seen a series of significant movements in recent times, prompting the need for regular roundups to keep track of the developments. For companies looking to share their updates, please submit the details of new appointments, role changes, and company transitions to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Two notable departures from Microsoft Gaming are Lori Wright and Haiyan Zhang. Wright, who served as CVP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, is leaving after a six-year tenure. Her role encompassed publishing and platform partnerships, content licensing, developer programs, and marketing expansion. Wright reflected on her time at Microsoft, expressing gratitude and looking forward to new experiences. Zhang, general manager and partner of Gaming AI, is also departing after more than a decade at Microsoft. She will be joining Netflix's gaming team, although her specific role has not been disclosed. In other news, Steel City Interactive has announced the appointment of Glen O'Connell, James Shaw, and Shaun White to senior director roles. O'Connell will serve as commercial partnerships director, Shaw as senior production director, and White as brand communications director. The trio brings extensive experience from their previous roles, including positions at EA Sports. Netflix has appointed Magali Huot as director of games marketing for mainstream games, leveraging her background in global gaming strategy and experience at Dentsu and Warner Bros Entertainment Group. Other notable appointments include Ryan Lastimosa as studio art director at Devoted Studios, Michael Borras as vice president of business development at Arc Games, and several new hires and promotions at Raptor PR. ProbablyMonsters has also expanded its leadership team with the addition of Jonathan Lander, David Reid, and Mark Subotnick to key roles. Timea Edvi has joined Kasedo Games as publishing director, bringing over twenty years of experience in games publishing and platform partnerships. Sebastian Nußbaum has been appointed chief creative officer at Sixteen Tons, while Alison Zeng has joined Microsoft Gaming as strategic partner manager. Adam Orth has taken on the role of COO at Midwest Games, and Arah Collins has been hired as senior narrative designer at Escape Velocity Entertainment.