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Xbox expands movie, TV ambitions with new division. The new division, called XP, will grow Xbox's footprint in film, TV, products, events and theme parks. Published Oct 09, 2026, 08:47 AM Updated Oct 09, 2026, 09:41 AM NEW YORK - Microsoft's Xbox unit is formalising its film and TV foray with a new division focused on expanding the video-game giant's franchises into other media. The entertainment division called XP will grow Xbox's footprint in film, TV, products, events and theme parks, Microsoft said in a statement on Oct 8. "Fans don't just play our franchises. They watch them, wear them, attend them, celebrate them and connect with them in countless ways," Kayleen Walters, the group's new president, wrote in an e-mail to her new team, Microsoft said. Walters, who was president of Microsoft's Minecraft unit Mojang, previously worked at Star Wars steward Lucasfilm for 13 years, including as a vice-president of franchise marketing. She was an executive producer on the Minecraft movie, which set box office records and earned US$157 million (S$201 million) its first weekend. Its sequel is in production. Microsoft also on Oct 8 named a new head for Mojang. Maria Angelidou-Smith, who previously worked for social media platform Reddit and tech company Meta Platforms, will become the unit's chief executive in October. A Minecraft theme park is set to open in London in 2027. Although not a social network like those two companies, Minecraft does let people express themselves, crafting items in the game. Tens of millions of people play Minecraft every day. It has sold more than 300 million copies. Microsoft's ambitions in entertainment remain strong, after mass layoffs and studio spin-outs to sharpen the focus of its gaming arm. Xbox's Fallout TV show (2024 to present) has seen major success. Amazon.com's Prime Video, where the show airs, reported that 100 million people watched at least a little of the series, which was just renewed for a third season.

Xbox announces new XP division to deliver transmedia spinoffs including film, TV, and theme parks. The division will be led by former Mojang president Kayleen Walters, who will be replaced by Reddit's Maria Angelidou-Smith News by Jon Hicks Editorial Director Published on Oct 8, 2026, 5:18 AM PDT Xbox has announced a new XP business unit, dedicated to transmedia brand extensions, including the Fallout TV series and the Minecraft World theme park. The new enterprise will be led by Kayleen Walters, the current president of Minecraft developer Mojang Studios, who previously spent eight years overseeing franchise development at Microsoft. Before joining Microsoft, she spent 13 years at Lucasfilm, rising to become vice president of franchise marketing and integrated planning. Walters was appointed as head of Mojang Studios in February, replacing outgoing head Åsa Bredin, who stepped down to "focus on personal goals outside of work." Walters will be replaced as president of Mojang by Maria Angelidou-Smith, who joins the Xbox division from Reddit, where she was chief product officer. Previously, she spent nearly a decade at Facebook. The XP division will focus on four areas: Xbox Pictures for film and television adaptations, Xbox Products for licensing and merchandise, Xbox Partnerships for sponsors and brand partners, and Xbox Places for broadcast and in-person events, theme parks, and other location-based experiences. In an email sent to Xbox employees this morning, Xbox head Asha Sharma said that the firm's franchises "mean more to people than the time they spend playing them, and Kayleen knows how to build those experiences with the industry without losing what made people care about the franchise in the first place." On Angelidou-Smith's appointment, Sharma said: "We wanted someone who has built products for communities at enormous scale, who is deeply technical, and who understands how creators, product, technology, and monetization come together. Maria brings a rare combination of those experiences." At the recent Minecraft Live event in September, it was announced that the Minecraft World destination will open at UK theme park Chessington World of Adventures in 2027. Microsoft entered a deal with Chessington owner Merlin Entertainments in 2024, with Merlin investing more than $110 million in two Minecraft-themed attractions. "We are everywhere digitally, Merlin is everywhere physically," said Walters at the time of the deal. "It's about how do we expand Minecraft beyond the game. Mojang and Microsoft are experts on Minecraft and the brand, Merlin are the experts on location-based experiences; it's a shared vision." Walters was executive producer of A Minecraft Movie in 2025, which generated $550 million after ten days in theatres. A sequel has been greenlit for July 23, 2027. Microsoft's new XP business unit will also oversee the Fallout TV series, which has been a hit for Amazon Prime Video, and has driven increased sales of the franchise's back catalogue, along with a player uptick in mobile title Fallout Shelter. The Halo TV series was less successful, lasting only two seasons on Paramount+ before being cancelled in 2024. A Gears of War movie that will "tell the origin story of Delta Squad" is currently in development at Netflix. The announcement of the new XP division is the latest in a long list of changes in Microsoft's gaming portfolio. Sharma announced a "reset" earlier this year, which has led to the loss of around 3,200 jobs and the divestment of five studios. But GamesIndustry.biz contributing editor Rob Fahey has questioned where the reset is going: "Nobody has yet deigned to outline a clear vision for what Xbox will actually look like after this reset," he said.

Toyota Hilux BEV survives brutal 30-foot caravan drop stunt. After letting Reddit users decide the punishment, Toyota drops a 750kg caravan onto the all-new electric Hilux workhorse and sees it drive away smoothly post-impact. October 6, 2026 List of Contents Key highlights: * Toyota drops a 760kg caravan onto the Hilux BEV * The Hilux ute survives the massive impact and drives away * The stunt pays tribute to Top Gear's 2003 Hilux test Toyota has put the new Hilux BEV through a punishment that directly revisits one of the ute's most famous durability tests. The 2026 stunt by Toyota UK recreates the spirit of Top Gear's legendary 2003 "Indestructible HiLux" segment, this time using the brand's new battery-electric workhorse. The test aimed to answer a simple question: can an electric Hilux take the same beating as its predecessors? Toyota dropped a 760kg caravan onto one from around 9.1 metres. Reddit chose the punishment. Toyota UK partnered with Reddit and asked users to choose how the Hilux BEV should face its next punishment. The Japanese automotive giant offered two options: * A 1-tonne (2205lb) wrecking ball * A 760kg (1676lb) caravan dropped from high altitude Users overwhelmingly picked the caravan drop, and Toyota followed through. Engineers lifted a 760kg caravan roughly 30 feet (9.1m) into the air using a large crane, and they positioned a brand-new Hilux BEV underneath it at Bentwaters Airfield in Suffolk, England. Then they let gravity take over. The caravan slammed directly onto the roof of the mid-size ute, and its lightweight fibreglass and wood construction crumbled under the impact. Toyota captured the collision with high-speed cameras for a closer look. It even placed a camera inside the caravan, showing the impact from inside the mobile home as it landed upside down on the Hilux. Toyota designed the stunt as a direct homage to Top Gear's famous 2003 "Indestructible HiLux" segment. Back then, Jeremy Clarkson subjected a 1980s diesel Hilux to a series of brutal destruction tests. One of those tests involved dropping a caravan onto the ute, and the new stunt asks whether the same legendary toughness carries across to a battery-electric Hilux. Toyota has warned viewers not to attempt or replicate any action shown in the video and also confirmed that crews recovered all the caravan debris from Bentwaters Airfield and sent it to a recycling facility. Hilux BEV drives away with modest damage. The Hilux BEV took a direct hit and still powered up immediately; then it drove away from the wreckage. The truck did not escape without damage, though. Its battle scars included: * A deformed roof * A cracked windscreen * A dented rear bed The suspension appeared to absorb the impact forces, briefly giving the ute a lowered, almost street-truck stance. More importantly, the battery and electric motors remained unharmed on this electric ute's ladder-frame chassis. The truck will likely count as a write-off because of the roof damage, but the test showed the major electric drivetrain components survived the impact. Top Gear gets the next round. The caravan drop was only the "warm-up", according to Toyota, as the company has offered the Hilux BEV to the Top Gear YouTube channel for more rough treatment. That sets up another round of punishment for the electric ute. The latest Hilux generation is not available in North America, but the prospect of WhistlinDiesel getting hold of one adds another possible level of abuse. Toyota wants electric Hilux to keep its reputation. Toyota wanted to show that switching the Hilux from an internal-combustion engine to a battery-electric powertrain does not mean sacrificing the ute's reputation for ruggedness and durability. The caravan drop delivered a suitably brutal answer. The roof took the hit, the battery and electric motors survived, and the Hilux BEV drove away. The new Hilux currently comes with mild-hybrid diesel and fully electric powertrains, and Toyota has also confirmed a hydrogen variant for 2028. Despite the expanding powertrain range, the diesel Hilux still accounts for the vast majority of sales. Its lower price, more usable fuel type, and stronger towing and payload ratings continue to make it the preferred choice for most buyers. Thinking of buying a tough-old Hilux ute? Explore these used Toyota Hilux utes offered with a 30-day return policy on Cars24 Australia.