Few, if any, Xbox executives have attained the status of pop culture icons like Larry Hryb has. Known within the gaming community as Major Nelson (due to his Xbox Live Gamertag), Hryb has had an illustrious career within Microsoft’s gaming division, and while he has already departed the company, there has been speculation that his next move might be a rather unexpected one.
Last month, the 60-year-old programmer announced via his Twitter account that he would be leaving Microsoft after more than two decades. Though he did not expound on what his next endeavor would be, he mentioned that he was taking a “step back to work on the next chapter of my career.”
What this means is anyone’s guess, but a recent image from his Twitter account has brought up some wild speculation from fans. Of course, we all know how keen on speculating fans can get, but sometimes hints can get quite on the nose.
The shared photo reveals Hryb in a selfie, clutching a Nintendo guest pass, with the caption “#JustVisiting.” Hryb’s visit to Nintendo’s American office in Redmond, Washington (which happens to be in close proximity to Microsoft’s headquarters), has sparked speculation that a potential collaboration or even a potential move to Nintendo could be in the works.
#JustVisiting pic.twitter.com/vtLqtyPrJ2
— Larry Hryb, Gamer Emeritus ⌨️🖱️🎮 (@majornelson) August 19, 2023
Some fans have playfully entertained the notion that Microsoft might acquire Nintendo by 2026, drawing parallels to instances like Stephen Elop’s move to Nokia in 2010, followed by Microsoft’s acquisition of the telecom company a few years later, or Mike Ybarra’s transition to Activision Blizzard in 2019, preceding Microsoft’s acquisition of the gaming giant three years down the line.
Though these rumors lack any concrete foundation, we have certainly witnessed stranger events unfold in the annals of gaming history. Before 2004, Nintendo was viewed by many as a non-starter that didn’t have the juice to compete against Microsoft and Sony.
However, that all changed when Reggie Fils-Aimé went on the E3 stage that year with one of the best intros we’ve heard: “My name is Reggie. I’m about kickin’ ass, I’m about takin’ names, and we’re about makin’ games.”
Two years later, the Regginator became the President of Nintendo of America, bringing about a Reggielution in his 13-year tenure. While Doug Bowser has done a great job so far, no one has come close to achieving the status and success Reggie endowed Nintendo with.
If Nintendo were to ever consider bringing someone that would measure up to Reggie, both in status and achievement, Hryb would undoubtedly be a top contender to fill those ginormous shoes. The likelihood of this happening is very slim, but on the off chance that it does, it would help revitalize the social presence that Nintendo seems to be lacking at the moment.
Currently, Nintendo is gearing up to reveal and release the successor to the Switch.
