Xbox Builds a Licensing Arm to Earn More From Older Series

Xbox has created a licensing-focused arm aimed at earning more revenue from its established franchises, even as the gaming division works through rounds of layoffs that will ultimately cut around 3,200 roles. The move signals more deals and merchandise in the mould of the Minecraft movie and the Fallout television series, extending the reach of properties that still draw large audiences.

The announcement arrived alongside a leadership change at Mojang, where Maria Angelidou-Smith, previously chief product officer at Reddit and a decade-long Meta veteran, takes charge of Minecraft. Together the two decisions sketch a strategy built on monetizing proven brands while trimming internal costs. Industry commentary has questioned prioritizing licensing while studios are reduced, noting the layoffs are proceeding regardless. Xbox has framed the new arm around growing its biggest properties but has not detailed which titles will receive tie-ins first, leaving the scope of the initiative open. The licensing push follows a string of adaptations that have performed well for the company, and management appears to view further spin-offs as a reliable source of growth.

Tags

• xbox
• business

Sources

• Rock Paper Shotgun

Where this story ran: one outlet on 8 October 2026. The summary above is written by GamersGuild; the links go to the original reports.

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