This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xboxs-backwards-compatibility-program-and-cloud-gaming-lead-has-been-laid-off-from-microsoft-after-37-years
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
An enormous wave of 4,800 layoffs hit Microsoft on Monday morning this week, with 3,200 of the cuts geared toward Xbox particularly for a “reset” of the agency’s gaming enterprise. The restructuring has seen numerous sport builders let go in addition to 4 studios divested from Microsoft, and people engaged on the Xbox platform itself have been affected as nicely.
One such staffer is Kevin LaChapelle, Microsoft’s vp of Xbox Platform In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday morning, LaChapelle shared that “I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox,” bringing an finish to his prolonged 37-year tenure on the firm.
LaChapelle has overseen growth of Xbox platform software program “across cloud, console, and PC” since 2023. Before that, he led the creation and development of Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service (previously known as xCloud), and before that he led the team of engineers that built the fan-favorite Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program.
Ever since it was unveiled at E3 2015 during what I’d say is indisputably one of the best moments in Xbox history, Xbox Backwards Compatibility — a feature that lets you play hundreds of Xbox 360 games and even some original Xbox titles on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S through an emulation layer — has been a colossal hit with fans.
At the time of its release, it also gave the fairly unpopular Xbox One a notable edge over Sony’s PlayStation 4 at a time when it sorely needed one. Longtime Xbox gamers were still able to enjoy a rich library of titles from past systems on the latest console natively, whereas the PS4 was incompatible with games made for older PlayStation consoles.
I can’t stress enough that the impact LaChapelle has had on Xbox has been huge — and that makes the news he’s been laid off all the more upsetting to hear, especially since the Backwards Compatibility Program he led has been revived this year, with many speculating the feature will be overhauled to work with Microsoft’s upcoming PC-console hybrid system Project Helix.
“I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox. This ends my 37 years at Microsoft. I have worked in many different parts of the company, and I will say my fondest memories are of leading the team of very talented engineers who built the Xbox Backward Compatibility program,” he wrote in his post. “Sitting in the auditorium when [Phil Spencer, former Xbox CEO] announced the program at E3 2015 was incredible. The audience’s reaction was unbelievable.”
“I followed that with leading the team who created our Cloud Gaming product. I am a firm believer that all entertainment will eventually become streamed to you wherever you are,” LaChapelle added. “I look forward to watching how Xbox evolves going forward and I wish the team nothing but success.”
Ultimately, I’m very sad to see LaChapelle cut from Microsoft and Xbox, and I hope that he’s able to land a new position somewhere soon. I extend that sentiment out to everyone impacted by these mass layoffs that have added to an already-devastating total that’s been growing since 2022.
How essential is the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program that LaChapelle led the event of to you? What about Xbox Cloud Gaming? Let me know within the feedback, and vote in our ballot as nicely.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and focus on our newest information, evaluations, and extra.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xboxs-backwards-compatibility-program-and-cloud-gaming-lead-has-been-laid-off-from-microsoft-after-37-years
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
