Phil Spencer leaving his long-held role at Xbox might have made all the last month, but a few years ago the big story was company veteran Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb’s from Microsoft. Hryb recently seemingly hinted at a return to the company at which he spent more than two decades, but he’s now landed at Commodore instead.
The ex-Xbox icon joins the recently revived 80s computer brand as a Community Development Advisor, where his job will be to “help support and expand the global community,” Commodore said in a press release. Hryb, who was the public face of Xbox during the brand’s heyday, is now tasked with helping to modernize Commodore by introducing it to “a new generation of creators, developers, and enthusiasts.”
“I’ve always believed the best thing a company can do is partner with its community – and with a passionate fan base carrying the torch for 31 years, Commodore’s situation is truly unique when it comes to community engagement,” said Hryb. “The community didn’t wait around – instead they built something remarkable. Players, hardware hobbyists, developers, content creators, and publishers are all a part of the Commodore community, and now we get to build what’s next together.”
Hryb’s most recent role was at game engine maker Unity, where he served as Director of Community and Advocacy for less than two years before being in January. As for Commodore, the company might be entering a new era, but its comeback product launch is a firmly nostalgic play, with the recently released being an authentic recreation of its most famous 8-bit computer.
