Hello ladies, Gentlemen and those of a non-binary nature, my name is Daibhi, this is the Gamerhub community and today we’re doing something a little different. Today, on Saturday the 15th of July 2023, we got some incredibly bittersweet news. For the last 17 years, Larry Hyrb has been the man that just about every Xbox gamer knows. As the Director of Programming for Microsoft’s Xbox Division, he’s been at the forefront of every major Xbox development ever since the Xbox 360 launch. Now, after all this time, Larry has retired.
We’ve even interviewed him on this site before, and although I wasn’t here at that point, Gavin told me that he was an absolute pleasure to interview. Kind, gentle and incredibly patient are all words that can be ascribed to the man.
This article is going to be something of a biography, and then a message to the major, as we have all appreciated his work throughout the years.
We don’t know an awful lot about his childhood, but Larry studied at Syracuse University in New York, where he graduated with a degree in TV, Radio and Film production from the journalism school. From there he worked for the broadcaster Clear Channel Communications, working his way up to becoming the Director of Promotions for them. He was also a programmer for them and an on-air radio host. In 2001, he began to work for Microsoft, where his first job was the Editor-In-Chief for MSN Music. It’s precisely at this point, where I, a 30-year-old Scotsman feel very old. In 2003, Larry was moved into the Xbox Division of Microsoft and he became incredibly important to them. Larry’s work involves being vital in the development of the Xbox 360, the Xbox One, the Kinect, Xbox Live and the Game Pass stuff.
Outside of being the unofficial president of Xbox gamers, Larry has advised loads of companies and people like us on how to engage with gamers from across the world. He’s incredible to follow on social media (for example, he has a YouTube channel, Twitter, YouTube) and he was possibly the last person we know that used Google Plus. He regularly plays Xbox games online and streams them, and also has a brilliant podcast that we at the Hub would recommend everybody listen to.
His podcast is called “Major Nelson Radio”, which is available to be listened to on his site, as well as iTunes and Xbox Music Marketplace. With Eric and Laura, he discusses new tech, developments in the industry, as well as other games consoles not developed by Microsoft. He does interviews with videogame developers from across the world, as well as doing giveaways for those with sharp ears. Even though the podcasts have come to a close, there are well over two hundred of them to listen to and I can assure you, they’re superb.
Larry, from this former PlayStation gamer turned Xbox addict, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your hard work for the gaming community across the world will ensure that you’ll never be forgotten.
For the Gamerhub, I’ve been Daibhi, and Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson) is a legend.
