Microsoft expands Xbox’s movie, TV ambitions with new division
XP will centralise efforts around such ventures but is not itself a production company
Microsoft is expanding its Xbox brand into the film and television industry with the launch of a new division called XP. The division will focus on growing Xbox's presence in film, TV, products, events, and theme parks. Kayleen Waters, who previously led Minecraft unit Mojang, has been appointed as the president of XP. Waters, who previously worked on the Minecraft movie that set box office records, believes fans engage with franchises through various media channels.
The new head of Mojang, Maria Angelidou-Smith, will take on the role of CEO this month. Microsoft's entertainment ventures include successful shows like Fallout on Amazon Prime Video and a renewal for a third season. The company is also working on an animated Netflix series based on the Diablo game, a Call of Duty movie, and a project with Hideo Kojima that includes film and TV rights.
Microsoft aims to leverage its massive fan base to drive interest in its video games, as evidenced by a five-fold increase in hours played for Fallout titles on Game Pass during the airing of the first season of its TV adaptation.
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