Mojang, the creative force behind the globally adored Minecraft, has welcomed Kayleen Walters as its new studio head, effective immediately. This transition marks a significant moment for the studio as Walters steps into her new role, succeeding Åsa Bredin, who will remain onboard until the end of February to ensure a smooth handover before pursuing personal goals beyond her professional commitments.
Walters, who joined Microsoft in 2018, brings a wealth of experience to her new position. In addition to her responsibilities at Mojang, she will continue to serve as Microsoft Gaming’s VP and head of franchise development. Her impressive background includes a tenure at Lucasfilm, where she ascended to the role of VP of franchise marketing and planning.
Expressing her enthusiasm for this new chapter, Walters shared on LinkedIn, “This is an amazing opportunity to lead such a talented group of individuals and continue to build on the legacy of one of the most beloved games in the world. I am looking forward to working closely with the team to bring even more creativity, innovation, and fun to our community.”
More leaders come to Mojang
Walters’ appointment is part of a broader reshuffling within Mojang’s leadership. According to reports from Variety, Amy Stillion, who currently oversees content and studios at Microsoft, will also join Mojang’s leadership team. She will take charge of the people experience team based in Redmond, WA. Stillion has been with Mojang since 2019, initially serving as chief of staff before transitioning to a similar role for all of Microsoft Gaming in early 2024.
In an internal communication to Mojang staff, Helen Chiang, VP of the Minecraft franchise, emphasized the significance of the new leadership. She stated that their “clear vision for the future [positions them] well to tackle the challenges we face in the marketplace with speed and momentum.”
