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Xbox Veteran 'Major Nelson' Larry Hryb Says He Was Laid Off by Unity

The exit underscores Unity's continuing restructuring and reputational challenges.

Overview

  • Hryb announced the layoff on LinkedIn, saying he was proud of his team's work over 18 to 19 months and is excited to explore his next chapter.
  • He joined Unity in early 2024 as director of community and advocacy after leaving Microsoft in 2023.
  • During more than two decades at Microsoft, he became the public face of Xbox and worked on features such as achievements, Party Chat, cloud saves, and in-game messaging.
  • Coverage places the move in the context of Unity's cost-cutting and controversy, including layoffs in 2022 and 2023 and a widely criticized 2023 runtime-fee plan later rolled back in 2024.
  • Industry peers have shared well-wishes following his post, with some suggesting he return to Xbox as he considers new opportunities.