Longtime Xbox Executive Major Nelson Departs After Two Decades

Larry Hryb, affectionately known as 'Major Nelson', has revealed his decision to leave his role as director of programming for Xbox Live after a remarkable 20-year tenure. Hryb initially joined Microsoft in 2001 and transitioned to the Xbox team in 2003, where he became an integral figure within the Xbox Live community. In a recent Twitter announcement on July 14, Hryb expressed his gratitude to the global gaming community and his colleagues for their trust and support over the years. He stated, 'After 20 incredible years, I have decided to take a step back and work on the next chapter of my career.' Hryb also expressed his enthusiasm for the future of Xbox, noting that 'as a gamer, I am excited to see the evolution.' Additionally, he announced that the official Xbox Podcast, which he hosted, would be taking a temporary break over the summer before returning in a revamped format. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer took to Twitter to acknowledge Hryb's contributions, thanking him for his friendship and dedication to the Xbox community and team.