Microsoft creates XP, new Xbox division for movies and non-games partnerships

Microsoft has created a new Xbox division named XP to handle movies and non-games partnerships, according to Eurogamer. The division is made up of four branches: Xbox Places, Xbox Pictures, Xbox Partnerships, and Xbox Products.

Kayleen Walters, formerly studio head of Mojang Studios and vice president of franchise development at Microsoft in Redmond, will head XP. Matthew Ball, chief strategy officer at Xbox, said XP will partner with creative minds across Xbox studios to create more ways for people to experience franchises.

Within XP, Xbox Places will oversee Minecraft theme parks opening in the US and UK, representing over £85 million of investment from Mojang and Xbox, expected to open between 2026 and 2027.

The initiative puts cross-media film and TV partnerships at the centre of Xbox's plans. Prior releases in that space include A Minecraft Movie, which amassed more than $550m (£415m) in two weeks and immediately set up a sequel, and Fallout Season 2, which boasted 83 million viewers tuning in during its first 13 weeks of release. Paramount's Halo TV show was cancelled after two seasons.

XP's staffing plans may be sensitive given recent cuts at Microsoft and Xbox over the past few years. Under Walters' tenure, Minecraft grew from 350 million units sold to over 425 million, and its merchandising business became one of the top 20 globally, with Mojang securing the first of many theme park placements to come.