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The recent layoffs at Microsoft, including deep cuts at Xbox, impacted 4,800 people across the business. One of the staffers let go was Kevin LaChapelle, a 37-year Microsoft veteran who helped bring to market one of the best, most-beloved features in Xbox console history: backwards compatibility.
LaChapelle, who was the vice president of the Xbox platform, confirmed on LinkedIn that he was part of the cuts. He started at Microsoft in 1989 as a software designer engineer, and moved to different parts of the business over the decades.
He started working on Xbox during the Xbox 360 days and later became a software engineering manager where he led the team responsible for delivering the popular backward compatibility program on Xbox One. This was the popular feature, announced at E3 2015, that allowed Xbox One owners to play Xbox 360 titles on the newer platform and later Xbox Series X|S as well.
“Sitting in the auditorium when Phil announced the program at E3 2015 was incredible. The audience’s reaction was unbelievable,” he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCGKATko82U
An update in November 2021 that added 70+ games, including original Xbox and Xbox 360 games, was the final update to the backwards compatiblity catalog.
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