Xbox Layoffs Included 37-Year Veteran Who Designed One Of Xbox’s Best Features Ever
Microsoft conducted a major restructuring of its gaming division, laying off 4,800 employees company-wide, with 3,200 cuts specifically targeting Xbox as part of a strategic “reset” of the gaming business. The layoffs affected numerous game developers and led to the divestment of four studios from Microsoft’s portfolio.
Among those impacted was Kevin LaChapelle, a 37-year Microsoft veteran who served as Vice President of Xbox Platform. LaChapelle, who joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software design engineer, had a significant impact on Xbox’s evolution across multiple console generations. Most notably, he led the team that developed the Xbox backwards compatibility program, which launched on Xbox One in 2015 and became one of the most celebrated and beloved features in Xbox’s history. He also played a key role in developing Xbox Cloud Gaming.
LaChapelle’s departure represents a notable loss for Xbox, as backwards compatibility has been a cornerstone of the platform’s strategic positioning, allowing players to enjoy older games on newer hardware. The feature gained widespread praise from the gaming community and differentiated Xbox from its competitors. The layoffs signal a significant overhaul of Microsoft’s gaming business structure, though specific details about the company’s future direction for the Xbox platform remain unclear.