Xbox Co-Founder Has Joined Amazon

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Xbox Co-Founder Has Joined Amazon

Key Takeaways

  • J Allard, a co-founder of Xbox, joined Amazon in September 2024.
  • Amazon has been making moves into the video gaming space with New World, and more games are currently in development.
  • It’s not yet clear what Allard will be working on at Amazon or if it involves games at all.

As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation at the news that Xbox co-founder J Allard has joined Amazon. This man was instrumental in shaping the gaming landscape with his work on Xbox and Xbox Live, so his involvement with Amazon could potentially be a game-changer.

J Allard, who was one of the original creators of the Xbox project back in 1999, has now joined forces with Amazon. This internet-based retailing titan started dipping its toes into the gaming industry as early as 2010, but truly began to see its aspirations come to fruition with the unveiling of “New World” in 2021, which will be rebranded as “New World: Aeternum” on October 15. Amazon has also been working on various other projects, both announced and hidden from public view, such as a yet-to-be-titled “Tomb Raider” game being developed by Crystal Dynamics and an MMORPG based on “The Lord of the Rings” in collaboration with Embracer’s Middle-earth Enterprises.

J Allard, during his tenure at Microsoft spanning over two decades, contributed significantly to several well-known projects. Among these, he is particularly recognized for his role in the formation of the original Xbox, building the Xbox Live network, and bringing on board some third-party developers whose games became iconic for the console. Following the launch of Xbox 360 in 2007, Allard held the positions of Chief Technology and Experience Officer, where he was responsible for projects like the Zune MP3 player and Courier tablet. However, the latter project remained undisclosed until its cancellation in 2010, leading Allard to venture into other entrepreneurial endeavors.

GeekWire noticed an update on a businessman’s LinkedIn profile, and it has been confirmed by The Verge that the individual began working for Amazon in September 2024 as vice president within their devices and services department. While the specifics are unclear, there is speculation that this might involve gaming. However, the executive stated that he cannot disclose any details about his new position yet, other than indicating that he will be focusing on “novel concepts.” Interestingly, this executive will report to Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in October 2023 following two decades at Microsoft, where he was instrumental in developing the Surface line of devices and overseeing the creation of Windows 11.

Xbox Co-Founder J Allard Joins Amazon as a VP

It’s known that Allard and Panay have backgrounds in developing tablet-style devices and launching significant product lines, but it remains uncertain what they will be focusing on at Amazon in the future. There is speculation on social media about Amazon potentially creating a device to compete with the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, but these are merely rumors for now. Interestingly, Amazon CEO Christoph Harmann has hinted that the company intends to create games for the Nintendo Switch 2.

For now, Amazon Games is keeping quite busy with several projects on the horizon. Apart from the previously mentioned games like “Lord of the Rings” and “Tomb Raider,” which are being developed by Amazon, it’s also reported that four other unnamed games are being developed by studios such as Glowmade, Disruptive Games, Maverick Games, and Amazon Games itself. However, another Amazon studio, Relentless, has been quiet since the closure of “Crucible,” their free-to-play third-person shooter game back in November 2020, shortly after its launch. Since then, Relentless has been aiding with the development of “New World: Aeternum” which is scheduled to release in October. So, it’s possible that we might hear about a new project from Relentless after “New World: Aeternum” is out.

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2024-10-04 14:13