
From launching Legend of Zelda cartridges at Nintendo to joining Microsoft’s hardware group, Don Coyner soon became one of the early rebels behind the creation of Xbox. In this Microsoft Alumni Voices conversation, hear how he was recruited by Seamus Blackley and Kevin Bachus to help make Microsoft’s unlikely leap into video games, how chaotic six‑to‑nine‑month sprints built the foundation of the brand, and how early gamers reacted (“Ew, Microsoft?”). Follow his behind‑the‑scenes stories about shaping the original Xbox and leading the design reboot that defined Xbox 360.

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From a globe‑hopping childhood in Saudi Arabia and Switzerland to becoming one of the earliest program managers on the first Xbox, Drew Angeloff describes his whirlwind career that was shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a bit of chaos. In this Microsoft Alumni Voices interview, hear how he went from stocking produce to cracking code, helped build Xbox from a five‑person skunkworks team, crafted early tech demos, shaped Xbox 360 graphics strategy, and later guided indie innovation and Forza Motorsport at Microsoft.

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Alumni Network








