Earlier this year, Microsoft brought Xbox FanFest back to LA for its summer 2026 gaming showcase. Earlier today, the company laid off the person who originally pitched and created it. Chris Munson arrived at Microsoft back in 2010 as part of the Halo marketing team. Nearly 16 years later, he was one of 1,600 people let go from the company in its latest round of mass cuts.
“After 15 1/2 years, I was affected by the layoffs at Xbox today. End of an era,” Munson wrote on LinkedIn on July 6. “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. But not the end of my goals to continue creating Value for Fans, Sports, Gaming and Culture, as I have for the last two decades. Although I will take some time to reflect and recharge, I will be eager to be a part of something even bigger.”
So sorry to hear about this Chris. You’ve been such an amazing asset to our community, have always had our back and have a great vision. Can’t wait to see what your next journey takes you. 💚 pic.twitter.com/1KHApmq7FP
— Peter Sark (@petersark) July 6, 2026
“Here to discuss the tsunami of fun that fans can expect is Chris Munson, or as he’s known online, the Xbox FanFest guy,” is how he was introduced on a 2018 episode of Inside Xbox. The event began back in 2015 as a way to bring Xbox players to events like the company’s E3 press briefings and Gamescom hands-on preview sessions. The Xbox One was in its second year and Microsoft was trying to take its message direct to consumers. Fans could get direct access to the top brass in exchange, chatting and taking selfies with figures like Major Nelson and Phil Spencer.
It was a big deal, then, when Microsoft decided earlier this year to bring back the live event amid its 25th anniversary celebration of Xbox and Halo. “In my first month, I heard clearly that our community values Xbox FanFest,” new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced in March. “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.”
The highlight this year was everyone in the live audience for the company’s June showcase getting a free 25th anniversary translucent green Xbox Series X. A month later, hundreds within Xbox are getting pink slips. The rest of Xbox FanFest 2026 is still ahead, with events planned across the globe through the rest of the summer and the fall.