Xbox Launches XP to Push Game Franchises Into Movies, TV and Beyond
Xbox has established a new division called XP to help its game franchises expand beyond gameplay into film, television, merchandise, partnerships and live events. Kayleen Walters, currently president of Mojang, will lead XP as president. The unit will pair Xbox properties with outside production companies rather than produce content itself, targeting franchises such as Call of Duty, Fallout, Halo and Minecraft.
Xbox's new XP unit, short for Experience Points, will be led by Kayleen Walters, who moves from heading Mojang. Maria Angelidou-Smith takes over Mojang. XP is not meant to make films or shows itself; instead, it will connect Xbox-owned games with outside producers. Its four stated focus areas are movies and TV, licensed goods, brand alliances, and live or broadcast events.
The division will draw on franchises including Call of Duty, Fallout, Halo, Minecraft, Warcraft, Gears of War, Candy Crush, Diablo, Forza, and The Elder Scrolls. Existing projects include a Minecraft sequel, a planned theme park, a Call of Duty film, a Netflix Diablo animation, and a Kojima project with adaptation potential.
XP may deepen the reach of gaming brands into everyday entertainment, affecting players, film and TV audiences, merchandise buyers, and event attendees. It could create more cross-media entry points for newcomers while raising questions about franchise saturation and corporate consolidation of culture. Studios, licensees, and venues may gain opportunities, though workers in game development could feel effects from ongoing restructuring.