Hubbry Logo
Larry HrybLarry HrybMain
Open search
Larry Hryb
Community hub
Larry Hryb
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Larry Hryb
Larry Hryb
Larry Hryb
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Lawrence Hryb (/ˈhɜːrb/), also known as Major Nelson, is an American executive who is the director of community of Unity Technologies. Hryb served as the director of programming for Xbox Live from 2005 until 2023. He is further known for his Xbox profile by the same name of 'Major Nelson'. His blog "Xbox Live's Major Nelson" provides an inside look at operations at Microsoft's Xbox division. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2001, he was a former programmer and on air host with radio broadcaster Clear Channel Communications.[1]

Key Information

Education

[edit]

Hryb graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Television, Radio and Film production from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.[2]

Career

[edit]

Xbox

[edit]

Hryb worked as the Director of Promotions for Clear Channel Communications in Hartford, Connecticut for WKSS from 1989 to late 2000. In early 2001, he began working with Microsoft; his first role at the company was as the editor in chief of MSN music. Hryb moved into Xbox division of Microsoft in 2003. Hryb was instrumental in the development of the Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Kinect and the 'New Xbox Experience'.

Hryb picked the Gamertag "Major Nelson" after a character by the same name on the 1960s U.S. television comedy I Dream of Jeannie after it was recommended to him by his TiVo.[3] Hryb dedicated his Gamertag to Larry Hagman (the actor who played Major Nelson) after his death in 2012.[4]

Hryb has advised dozens of gaming and non-gaming companies and communities on how to best engage with their audiences using digital tools and social networks. In 2012, he was named one of Mashable's '13 Bona Fide Geeks to Follow'.[5] Hryb performs product reviews and mentions through his various social media outlets - Twitter, his podcast, Google Plus page, YouTube profile, and his personal blog - for lifestyle-related products and services.

In July 2023, Hryb announced he had decided to "take a step back and work on the next chapter of my career." He thanked fans and colleagues and said the Official Xbox Podcast would return with a new format after its summer hiatus.[6]

Major Nelson Radio podcast

[edit]
Hryb with the Lancer rifle from Gears of War, 2008

Hryb is most known for his popular weekly podcast "Major Nelson Radio", available on iTunes, Xbox Music Marketplace, and from his site. He does interviews as well. Direct from inside the Microsoft Xbox team, Hryb and his colleagues including regular co-hosts Laura Massey ("lollip0p"), and Eric Neustadter ("e") discuss Xbox One, Xbox 360, Kinect, Zune, gaming, technology, other next generation consoles (including the PlayStation 4, and Wii U), among other subjects. His show regularly hosts interviews with people in the gaming community, and offers prizes to listeners through his "Name the Game" contest, where he plays a short audio clip from a game, and a winner is drawn from the correct entries. Additionally, regular features of the podcast include "Xbox 101", a segment devoted to various features on the Xbox One or Xbox Live, Gadget discussion where they discuss the latest and greatest gadget. Many companies have contacted Larry to review or cover their products to reach this audience, but Larry has declined stating that he only wants to talk about products he actually uses and are of high quality and value. Recently, as convergence takes place with the auto industry, they have also started looking at vehicles that use technology in a new and exciting ways.

Originally, Hryb produced the podcast by himself. The podcast used to consist of him giving a monologue and breaking to play prerecorded interviews. On November 6, 2006, he celebrated his '200th' podcast, which was marked with a nearly two and a half hour show. Hryb openly admits that he added to the show number and the figure doesn't accurately reflect the number of shows made. Hryb switched to a #1xx numbering around July 18, 2005, when he did show #136 after the previous '7/10/05 Blogcast'.[7] Major Nelson was interviewed on the Video Game Outsiders Podcast (show #50), where he commented "About a year and a half ago, I started numbering my shows at 100...it makes it sound cooler, bigger numbers are always better."[7]

Unity

[edit]

In June 2024, Hryb announced he would lead Unity Technologies's community department.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Hryb is married to Taylor Johnson, the author of The Happy Girl blog and lives in the state of Washington. During Show 478 of the Major Nelson podcast he expressed interest in classical music, noting that he nearly minored in it during his college studies.[9] In 2006, Next Generation Magazine named Hryb one of the "Top 25 People of the Year" in video gaming.[10] Also, in 2009 he was featured on Wired.com's "100 Geeks You Should Be Following On Twitter".[11] Hryb has worked with multiple Fortune 500 companies, advising them on how to use social media to better connect with the community. He revealed that his guilty pleasure is KFC mashed potatoes.[12]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Larry Hryb

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Lawrence "Larry" Hryb, known by his Xbox gamertag Major Nelson, is an American gaming industry executive and prominent community figure who spent over two decades at shaping the ecosystem. A graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a B.S. in television, radio, and film production (class of 1989), Hryb began his career as a programmer and on-air radio host at Clear Channel Communications before joining as a contractor in 1994. Hryb transitioned to full-time employment at in 2001, where he initially led the creation of MSN Music, an early digital . In 2003, he joined the team as Director of Programming for Live, contributing significantly to the platform's growth by introducing innovative features like the achievements system—now a standard in the gaming industry—and party chat functionality. His work extended to key product developments, including Live enhancements, the , , and integration, while he also served as Senior Director of Corporate Communications starting in 2012 to foster stronger ties between and its global community. Throughout his tenure, Hryb built a massive following through his at majornelson.com, the weekly Major Nelson Radio podcast (later rebranded as the Official Xbox Podcast), and his highly active account (@majornelson), where he engaged fans, shared updates, and even distributed free games. In July 2023, after 22 years at —including 20 with —Hryb announced he was "taking a step back" from his role to pursue new opportunities, placing the Official Xbox Podcast on hiatus. He joined in June 2024 as Director of Community, leveraging his expertise in digital engagement to support developers using the company's and tools. In January 2025, Hryb joined the board of trustees of the Alumni Network. Hryb's contributions have earned him recognition as one of the most influential voices in gaming, advising brands on and leaving a lasting impact on online multiplayer experiences.

Early life and education

Birth and family origins

Public details about his parents and siblings remain limited, with Hryb occasionally referencing his family in personal announcements, including the unexpected passing of his in August 2023 and the presence of his sisters during that time. No further information on his father or additional family members has been disclosed in available sources. Hryb transitioned to higher education at , where he pursued studies in media production.

Academic pursuits

Larry Hryb pursued his higher education at , where he focused on media and communications. He graduated in 1989 with a in Television, Radio, and Film Production from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. This program provided him with foundational training in broadcasting and production techniques essential for his future career. During his time at Newhouse, he engaged in hands-on activities in radio and television, gaining practical experience in through that honed his skills in media creation. These academic experiences at laid the groundwork for Hryb's entry into professional media roles following graduation.

Professional career

Early roles in media

After graduating from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in television, radio, and film in 1989, Larry Hryb began his professional career in the media industry. His education provided a strong foundation in and production techniques, preparing him for entry-level roles in radio. Hryb joined Clear Channel Communications shortly after , serving as a programmer and on-air host at WKSS ( 95.7), a Top 40 radio station in . He advanced to the role of Director of Promotions, where he managed promotional events, advertising campaigns, and on-air content for the station throughout the 1990s, spanning over a decade until late 2000. In this position, Hryb honed skills in audience engagement, content scheduling, and live , contributing to the station's programming as a contemporary hit radio outlet targeting local listeners. During this period at Clear Channel, Hryb began working as a contractor for in 1994, contributing to the launches of , , and . He continued in this contractor capacity until 2001. During this period, Hryb also gained brief experience in film through a minor acting role. In 1996, he appeared as an extra in a silent cameo in the crime drama Sleepers, directed by and starring and , marking an early foray into on-screen media production. These early roles collectively built his expertise in media production, from radio scripting and event coordination to basic entertainment storytelling, laying the groundwork for his later career in and community management.

Xbox tenure at Microsoft

Larry Hryb joined Microsoft in 2001 as editor-in-chief of MSN Music, where he oversaw content and programming for the service. In 2003, he transitioned to the Xbox division, contributing to the early development of Xbox Live as a key platform for online gaming and community interaction. His work focused on enhancing user engagement through innovative features that became staples of the Xbox ecosystem. By 2005, Hryb had advanced to the role of Director of Programming for Xbox Live, a position he held until 2012. In 2012, he became Senior Director of Corporate Communications for , a role he maintained until 2023, during which he led efforts to evolve the service across multiple console generations. He played a pivotal role in the development of features, including the Achievement system, party chat, cloud saves, and in-game messaging, which significantly boosted player retention and social connectivity. For , Hryb contributed to the console's launch and integration of Xbox Live enhancements, such as improved media capabilities that earned the platform a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award in 2015 for Television Enhancement Devices. Additionally, he was part of the team that received an Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Achievement in Multiplayer-Backend Console Services related to Xbox Live. To foster community building, Hryb launched one of Microsoft's early podcasts in 2005, using it to provide updates and insights into developments. Hryb's tenure also encompassed contributions to the New Xbox Experience redesign in 2008, which modernized the dashboard and community tools, and support for integration on and . Over his 20 years with the team, he helped shape Xbox Live into a robust service supporting millions of users worldwide, emphasizing accessibility and innovation in gaming. In July 2023, Hryb announced his departure from after 22 years, reflecting on his foundational impact on the platform's growth.

Move to Unity Technologies

In June 2024, Larry Hryb joined as Senior Director of Community and Advocacy, marking a significant transition in his career following his long tenure at . In this position, Hryb leads efforts to build and nurture developer communities, while advocating for and promoting Unity's suite of tools essential for creation and development. His prior experience managing Xbox's global community informs these initiatives, enabling him to foster collaborative environments that support creators using Unity's engine. In January 2025, Hryb joined the board of trustees for the Microsoft Alumni Network, where he contributes to programs connecting former employees and advancing alumni initiatives. In January 2024, he launched his personal website, hryb.co, as a platform to share updates on his professional transitions and ongoing work in the gaming industry.

Public persona and media

as Major Nelson

Larry Hryb adopted the "Major Nelson" persona as his gamertag in the early 2000s, drawing inspiration from the character played by in the 1960s television series . This choice reflected his enthusiasm for gaming culture and quickly evolved into a recognizable public brand synonymous with , serving as his official handle across platforms for over two decades. The persona became integral to his professional identity, blending personal gaming passion with corporate representation. Hryb maintained an active presence on X (formerly ) under the @majornelson handle, joining the platform on November 22, 2006, and amassing over 1.1 million followers by 2025. Through this account, he fostered community engagement by sharing official announcements, responding to user queries, and highlighting developer updates, often in real-time during events like and showcases. His approachable interactions—such as live-tweeting gameplay sessions and addressing feedback—earned him a reputation as a key bridge between and gamers, exemplified by his role in amplifying community voices during console launches. Following his departure from Microsoft in July 2023 after 20 years, Hryb's online focus shifted toward broader gaming commentary and promoting his new role at , where he joined as Director of Community in June 2024. On X, he continued posting about industry trends, independent game developments, and Unity-related initiatives, while occasionally referencing his Xbox legacy to contextualize ongoing discussions. This evolution maintained the "Major Nelson" brand as a versatile emblem of gaming advocacy beyond a single platform.

Podcasting and broadcasting

Larry Hryb launched the Major Nelson Radio podcast in 2005 while serving as the Director of Xbox Live Programming at Microsoft, marking one of the company's earliest forays into podcasting. The show adopted a weekly format, typically running 45 to 90 minutes per episode, and featured a mix of solo commentary, co-host discussions, and guest interviews centered on Xbox ecosystem developments. Early episodes emphasized Xbox Live updates, multiplayer gaming trends, and behind-the-scenes insights into console launches, establishing Hryb's conversational style as a key draw for the gaming community. Over nearly two decades, from the late through 2023, the evolved into a staple for enthusiasts, with hundreds of episodes covering major announcements like the reveal in 2013 and the Series X|S launch in 2020. Content regularly included interviews with game developers, such as Remedy Entertainment's on in 2016, and industry executives discussing titles like , alongside listener Q&A segments on gaming hardware and services. By 2018, it incorporated video elements streamed on platforms like Mixer, broadening its reach while maintaining its core focus on timely news and community engagement. Following Hryb's departure from in July 2023 after 20 years, Major Nelson Radio—rebranded as the Official Xbox —entered a planned hiatus that summer to facilitate a format overhaul. The returned later that year under new hosts including Malik Prince, Tina Amini, and Jeff Rubenstein, shifting to a more collaborative panel structure while retaining its emphasis on updates and developer interviews, though without Hryb's direct involvement. This evolution reflected broader changes in 's content strategy, allowing the show to continue as an official outlet for gaming insights. Hryb's broadcasting roots trace back to his early radio hosting roles in the , which informed the accessible, narrative-driven approach of his podcasting work. Post-Microsoft, he made select guest appearances, including on the Uncast Show in June 2024 discussing gaming technology and his Xbox tenure, and the Midwest Games at PAX East in March 2024, where he shared Xbox history anecdotes. In 2025, he co-hosted episodes of the Beyond the Blue Badge , exploring Microsoft alumni stories tied to early tech innovations. These engagements underscored his ongoing influence in audio media, bridging his radio origins with contemporary gaming discourse.

Personal life

Marriage and immediate family

Larry Hryb married Taylor Johnson on September 4, 1994. The couple resides in . Hryb and Johnson have one daughter, Waverly. After departing in July 2023, Hryb stated that his immediate plans included spending more time with his family. In August 2023, Hryb's mother, B. Carol Lunn, passed away unexpectedly at age 85.

Interests and later activities

Hryb maintains a passion for collecting gaming gadgets, particularly rare consoles from his time at . In November 2025, he shared images of his custom console, one of the limited units distributed to team members to commemorate the product's debut, noting that he has never powered it on to preserve its condition. His interest in such devices extends to other platforms, as evidenced by his early enthusiasm for Nintendo's portable systems, including camping out to acquire a DS Lite upon its 2006 release. Following his departure from Microsoft in 2023, Hryb has continued to engage with gaming as a private enthusiast, focusing on personal enjoyment rather than professional obligations. He remains active in the community through non-corporate channels, such as sharing insights into his collection and reflecting on gaming's evolution. Hryb has participated in alumni events and gaming conventions since 2023, attending as an industry veteran and enthusiast. In March 2024, he appeared at PAX East, where he discussed Xbox history and his ongoing interest in game development during an on-site . By January 2025, he joined the Alumni Association board, contributing to networking and legacy initiatives for former employees. In announcing his 2023 exit from , Hryb stated his intent to spend time with his family and "enjoy the summer" before pursuing new personal and professional chapters. This shift has allowed him to integrate family time with his hobbies, emphasizing quality moments amid his continued passion for technology and play.

References

  1. https://50forward.syr.edu/honoree/larry-hryb/
  2. https://www.microsoftalumni.com/s/1769/19/interior.aspx?sid=1769&gid=2&pgid=1779&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1
  3. https://www.geekwire.com/2023/xboxs-larry-major-nelson-hryb-microsoft/
  4. https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/17/24180241/major-nelson-larry-hryb-unity-community-xbox
  5. https://www.microsoftalumni.com/s/1769/19/interior.aspx?sid=1769&gid=2&pgid=3410
  6. https://x.com/majornelson/status/1695590230382833923
  7. https://dailyorange.com/2014/04/alumnus-discusses-connection-between-storytelling-and-video-games/
  8. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-s-major-nelson-speaking-at-connecticut-high-school-graduation/1100-6420553/
  9. https://uncast.buzzsprout.com/1746902/episodes/15284698-larry-hryb-talks-gaming-tech-and-unraid
  10. https://www.engadget.com/larry-hryb-xboxs-major-nelson-is-leaving-microsoft-203607573.html
  11. https://www.microsoftalumni.com/?sid=1769&gid=2&pgid=252&cid=14163&ecid=14163&crid=0&calpgid=1929&calcid=7853
  12. https://www.ign.com/articles/xboxs-larry-hryb-better-known-as-major-nelson-steps-down-after-20-years
  13. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2015/01/12/xbox-one-emmy-award/
  14. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2005/09/14/and-the-emmy-goes-to/
  15. https://hryb.co/
  16. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/microsoft-s-larry-major-nelson-hyrb-to-depart-xbox
  17. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/xboxs-major-nelson-leaves-after-20-years
  18. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unity-discovers-major-security-vulnerability-in-development-tool-dating-back-to-2017
  19. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/microsoft-alum-larry-major-nelson-hyrb-joins-unity-as-community-director
  20. https://hryb.co/2024/01/11/hello-world/
  21. https://x.com/majornelson
  22. https://www.wired.com/2011/03/interview-a-chat-with-major-nelson-the-nicest-guy-on-xbox-live-or-larry-hryb-to-the-rest-of-us/
  23. https://www.shacknews.com/article/140279/larry-hryb-major-nelson-joins-unity
  24. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/podcast/
  25. https://www.pcgamer.com/after-20-years-major-nelson-is-leaving-microsoft/
  26. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/major-nelson-is-leaving-xbox-after-20-years/1100-6515997/
  27. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/podcast/mnr-566-quantum-breaks-sam-lake-and-more/
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2bt501MV34
  29. https://kotaku.com/xbox-major-nelson-larry-hryb-official-podcast-microsoft-1850642324
  30. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-official-xbox-podcast/id74848525
  31. https://open.spotify.com/show/6XTZPWQl9RN9WGW7CS8E01
  32. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/larry-hryb-talks-gaming-tech-and-unraid/id1566634831?i=1000659689944
  33. https://open.spotify.com/show/4lNDX7AssWPeG3uWkEmF3r
  34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zLGp6uk6PQ
  35. https://sortedbyname.com/letter_h/hryb/index_2.html
  36. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/b-lunn-obituary?id=53002087
  37. https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/larry-hyrb-major-nelson-stepping-down-after-20-years-with-xbox
  38. https://xboxera.com/2025/11/10/rare-xbox-360-launch-console-shown/
  39. https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/11/xbox-legend-major-nelson-reveals-his-custom-xbox-360-that-hes-never-turned-on
  40. https://www.macworld.com/article/184510/xbox_lives_major_nelson_shows.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.