Xbox's new XP division pushes game adaptations as Netflix changes

Xbox is putting its movie, TV and merchandise plans under one roof. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said on October 8, 2026, that Kayleen Walters would leave Mojang to lead XP, a newly formed Xbox division.

The move comes as one of Xbox's streaming partners reshuffles its own top ranks. CNBC reported that Netflix picked former Disney executive Peter Rice to take over from Bela Bajaria as chief content officer starting Oct. 26, and Xbox already has a Diablo animated series in the works for Netflix.

Key facts

• Sharma said XP spans Xbox Pictures for film and TV, Xbox Products for licensing and merchandise, Xbox Partnerships for sponsors and Xbox Places for events and theme parks.
• Sharma's memo said Walters spent 13 years at Lucasfilm before joining Xbox, and Variety reported that she was an executive producer of A Minecraft Movie.
• Xbox has a second Minecraft film, a third Fallout season on Prime Video, a Call of Duty film and a Diablo animated series for Netflix in development.
• CNBC reported that Bajaria is leaving Netflix after nearly 10 years, with Rice stepping in on Oct. 26.

What XP will do

XP gathers work that used to be spread out. Several Xbox teams already handled adaptations and licensing, and that work now sits inside the single XP division.

The division has a long list of games to draw from. Variety reported that Walters' team will build entertainment around Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fallout, Warcraft, Gears of War, Candy Crush, Diablo, Forza, The Elder Scrolls and Halo.

Walters arrives with a track record on Minecraft. Variety reported that Minecraft sales climbed from 350 million units to more than 425 million under Walters.

There is more in the pipeline than Xbox's own games. Variety reported that Xbox holds film and TV rights to Physint, the next game from Hideo Kojima, and that a Call of Duty movie is in development at Paramount.

Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball stressed that the games still come first. "Great games remain at the center of these franchises and at the heart of XBOX," Ball said.

The leadership changes reached beyond XP. Sharma said Maria Angelidou-Smith, previously Reddit's chief product officer, would become CEO of Mojang and Minecraft starting Monday, October 19.

Background

Xbox has tried this before. Microsoft created Xbox Entertainment Studios in 2012 to turn Xbox games into film and TV, then closed it two years later.

This time the effort starts with projects already moving. The sequel to A Minecraft Movie, the third Fallout season, the Call of Duty film and the Diablo series are all in development.

Netflix's leadership change

Netflix is changing who runs its programming. CNBC reported that Rice will run Netflix's global content group, which covers scripted and unscripted series, film and live events.

Rice comes from a long run in traditional media. CNBC reported that Rice most recently ran Disney's cable channels, news programming and coverage of major sports events, after earlier jobs at 21st Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The shift comes at a hard time for the streamer. CNBC reported that Netflix cut roughly 1,000 jobs, about 6% of its staff, and that its stock had fallen more than 20% this year.

What it means for you

Fans of several big game series have projects to watch for. Minecraft, Fallout, Call of Duty and Diablo fans are the audience for adaptations already underway, including the Diablo animated series for Netflix.

Licensing and adaptation work that several Xbox teams used to handle now runs through XP, Sharma's new division. Not every question has an answer yet. It is not known which partners Xbox will license its games to next. It is also not known whether Rice will change how Netflix handles game adaptations.

What happens next

The Netflix change takes effect soon. CNBC reported that Rice becomes Netflix's chief content officer on Oct. 26.

Walters will stay close to Minecraft on screen. Sharma said a sequel to A Minecraft Movie is in development, with Walters among its producers.

XP also has a long runway of games to adapt. Variety reported that the XP team plans entertainment built on franchises from Minecraft to Halo.

FAQ

What is Xbox XP? Sharma described a new Xbox division led by Walters that handles film and TV, licensing and merchandise, partnerships, and events and theme parks.

Who replaces Bela Bajaria at Netflix? CNBC reported that former Disney executive Peter Rice takes over on Oct. 26.

Is Xbox already working with Netflix? Yes. Xbox has a Diablo animated series in development for Netflix.

Who leads Mojang now? Sharma said Maria Angelidou-Smith became CEO of Mojang and Minecraft on Monday, October 19.

Has Xbox done this before? Yes. Xbox Entertainment Studios opened in 2012 and shut down two years later.

Who is Peter Rice? CNBC reported that Rice most recently oversaw Disney's cable channels, news and major sports coverage, and earlier worked at 21st Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Which games could XP adapt? Variety reported that the XP team will work with franchises including Call of Duty, Warcraft, Gears of War, Candy Crush, Forza, The Elder Scrolls and Halo.

Is a Call of Duty movie happening? Variety reported that a Call of Duty movie is in the works at Paramount.

What else does Xbox hold rights to? Variety reported that Xbox has film and TV rights to Physint, Hideo Kojima's next game.

How big is Minecraft? Variety reported that Minecraft passed 425 million units sold under Walters, up from 350 million.