Xbox launches XP division to turn Halo, Fallout and Minecraft into films and shows
Representative image: Lenzatic / Pixabay
Xbox announced a new division, XP, on 8 October 2026 to adapt its game franchises into films, TV, merchandise and live experiences, led by Kayleen Walters.
What Happened
Microsoft's Xbox has set up a new entertainment division, called XP, to turn its video game franchises into films, television series, merchandise and live experiences. The division was announced on Thursday, 8 October 2026, by Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma and chief strategy officer Matthew Ball. It will be led by Kayleen Walters as president. Walters has run Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, and was an executive producer of the Minecraft film. Maria Angelidou-Smith will take over from her as head of Minecraft and Mojang on 19 October.
Key Facts
- Xbox announced its new XP division on 8 October 2026.
- Kayleen Walters, previously head of Mojang and an executive producer on the Minecraft film, is president of XP.
- XP has four parts: Xbox Pictures for film and television, Xbox Products for merchandise, Xbox Places for physical and live experiences, and Xbox Partnerships.
- Franchises in scope reportedly include Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fallout, Warcraft, Gears of War, Candy Crush, Diablo, Forza, The Elder Scrolls and Halo.
- The Minecraft film, released by Warner Bros., took about 960 million dollars at the global box office, according to reports.
- Walters spent 13 years at Lucasfilm before joining Microsoft's games business.
- No specific new film or series under XP has been announced yet.
Why It Matters
Game adaptations have become a bigger business for Hollywood, and successes such as the Minecraft film have made studios and game publishers more willing to invest. Xbox controls a long list of well-known game franchises, from Halo and Minecraft to Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo and Candy Crush.
By putting film, television, merchandise and live events under one leader, Microsoft is treating its games as entertainment brands rather than only as products to play. That is the model Disney built around Marvel and Star Wars, where films, theme-park attractions and toys feed each other. Walters' background at Lucasfilm and on the Minecraft film is clearly meant to bring that experience to Xbox.
The move also carries risk. Microsoft tried a television push once before, with Xbox Entertainment Studios in 2012, an effort that coverage of the new launch describes as having ended in failure and job cuts. The new division arrives while Xbox has been cutting jobs in its game studios, which may prompt questions about priorities. Success will depend on whether XP partners with established studios and streaming services, and on how faithfully it treats franchises that players care deeply about.
For gaming fans in India, XP could mean more game-based films and series on cinema screens and streaming platforms in the coming years.
| XP unit | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Xbox Pictures | Film and television adaptations |
| Xbox Products | Merchandise and consumer products |
| Xbox Places | Physical locations and live experiences |
| Xbox Partnerships | Brand and commercial tie-ups |
Impact
Short-term: Expect announcements of partners and first projects as XP gets started, along with leadership changes at Mojang from 19 October.
Long-term: If XP delivers hits, Xbox franchises could become cross-media brands on a par with major film studios' properties, and other game publishers may follow with similar divisions.
Who is affected: Fans of Xbox franchises, Hollywood studios and streaming platforms seeking proven stories, toy and merchandise makers, game developers inside Microsoft, and global audiences including India's large gaming community.
Key Takeaway
Xbox's new XP division, led by Minecraft film producer Kayleen Walters, will turn games like Halo, Fallout and Call of Duty into films, shows, products and live experiences.
Questions and Answers
What is Xbox XP?
XP is a new Microsoft Xbox division announced on 8 October 2026 that handles film and TV adaptations, merchandise, live experiences and partnerships for Xbox game franchises.
Who runs XP?
Kayleen Walters is president. She previously led Mojang, the maker of Minecraft, was an executive producer on the Minecraft film and spent 13 years at Lucasfilm.
Which games could become films or series?
Reported franchises in scope include Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fallout, Warcraft, Gears of War, Candy Crush, Diablo, Forza, The Elder Scrolls and Halo. No new projects have been named yet.
Who will run Minecraft now?
Maria Angelidou-Smith will become head of Minecraft and Mojang on 19 October 2026, replacing Walters.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
