Major Nelson, a prominent figure in the Xbox community, is among those laid off at Unity.

Gaming executive Larry Hyrb, known as Major Nelson, has announced his departure from Unity, where he served as Director of Community and Advocacy for the past couple of years.

“After nearly three decades of making an impact at Microsoft, I joined Unity in 2024. During my time there, I rebuilt their Community and Advocacy Team with a deliberate strategy that created a clearer, more connected experience for creators, developers, and gamers,” Hyrb shared on LinkedIn.

He added, “We brought energy back to channels that had gone quiet, restored trust, and showed up consistently where it mattered. I elevated Unity’s visibility at PAX and key industry events, strengthened relationships, and ensured Unity had a clear voice in the broader conversation.”

The specifics of Hyrb’s departure remain unclear, including whether it is part of a larger wave of layoffs at the company. “I’ve had invigorating conversations over the past weeks with companies in tech and non-tech spaces to discuss partnerships,” he mentioned on BlueSky. “I love what I do but I also believe change is necessary. I’ll let you know where I go from here.”

Hyrb was a significant figure in the Xbox community, spending nearly 23 years at Microsoft, where he helped cultivate the Xbox Live community and championed features like the Achievement system, cloud saves, in-game messaging, and party chat.

He left Microsoft in 2023, just before Xbox shifted towards a multiplatform strategy that moved away from focusing on a single piece of hardware. Since Hyrb’s exit, the brand has been less visible and community-oriented.

Unity has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2023, the company proposed a new Runtime Fee, which was quickly retracted following strong backlash from developers. Shortly after, then-CEO John Riccitiello resigned. In 2024, Unity laid off around 1,800 employees, roughly 25% of its workforce, and also cut its Behavior team.