Microsoft has hired Kim Swift, cocreator and design lead of the game Portal, as senior director of cloud games at Xbox Game Studios Publishing. Swift will oversee the publisher’s collaborations with independent studios focused on building games for cloud streaming.
Role and responsibilities at Xbox
In her new position, Swift will lead a team dedicated to creating new cloud-native experiences and collaborating with indie partners. The move is part of Xbox’s effort to expand access to its games through cloud technology rather than relying solely on consoles or PCs.
Company statement and priorities
Xbox welcomed Swift on its official Twitter account, noting the studio’s emphasis on community, innovation and inclusion. The announcement said Swift “joins Xbox Game Studios Publishing to accelerate our innovation and collaborate with independent studios in building games for the cloud.”
Background and previous work
Swift previously worked at Stadia as director of game design. Google shut down its internal Stadia game development studio in February, prompting many team members to move to other companies in the industry.
Her credits include Narbacular Drop, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Quantum Conundrum, PIXLD, Soul Fjord and Star Wars Battlefront II. Her work on Narbacular Drop led to her joining Valve, where she led development on the puzzle classic Portal.
Strategic goal: reach players without consoles
Microsoft says the hire supports its goal of reaching players who do not have, do not want or do not need consoles or gaming PCs. The company is developing streaming devices and smart TV apps so people can play Xbox cloud games via Game Pass without dedicated hardware.
Executive comment
Peter Wyse, head of Xbox Game Studios Publishing, told Polygon that Swift “will build a team focused on new experiences in the cloud, something that will support our mission to bring our Xbox games to connect 3 billion players to play our games.”
Via: Engadget
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