Microsoft has laid off Chris Munson, the veteran employee who originally pitched and created the Xbox FanFest program. The departure comes just three months after the company officially brought the fan-focused event back to Los Angeles for its summer 2026 gaming showcase.
Munson, who joined Microsoft in 2010 to work on the Halo marketing team, was among the 1,600 employees affected by the latest round of mass cuts at the company. He announced his departure on LinkedIn on July 6, noting that his tenure of over 15 years had come to an end.
“From Halo, to State of Decay, to new IP, to Xbox FanFest, to Sports Partnerships and all the activations that delivered billions of Impressions, Engagement and Revenue,” Munson wrote. “Although I will take some time to reflect and recharge, I will be eager to be a part of something even bigger.”
A History of Fan Engagement
Munson’s work with the brand was well-recognized by the community. On a 2018 episode of Inside Xbox, he was introduced as the “Xbox FanFest guy,” a title he leaned into while helping the brand pivot toward more direct consumer engagement. The event series launched in 2015, designed to bring players closer to the development process and the company’s leadership during major industry milestones like E3 and Gamescom.
The return of the live event earlier this year was a significant point of emphasis for the company. In March, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the decision to revive the initiative, citing feedback from the community. “In my first month, I heard clearly that our community values Xbox FanFest,” Sharma stated at the time. “As part of the return of Xbox, we made the decision to bring it back to LA to recognize the players who’ve been with us over the years.”
Future of the Event Series
The 2026 iteration of the event featured a notable highlight for attendees, with every member of the live audience at the June showcase receiving a limited-edition 25th anniversary translucent green Xbox Series X. Despite the change in staffing, the company has confirmed that the broader schedule for the 2026 tour remains unchanged, with additional events slated to take place throughout the summer and fall.