Kim Swift, a designer known for working on Portal and Left 4 Dead, is now hired by Microsoft and is part of the developer group in Xbox Game Studios.

This is confirmed on a recent Xbox Game Studios tweet. Her new role is “to accelerate our innovation and collaborate with independent studios to build games for the cloud”. This is in line with Xbox’s announcement to create a “console-free” streaming device, since the company is working with TV manufacturers to embed the Xbox experience directly into internet-connected TVs.

Our team focuses on three pillars in our games: Community, Innovation and Inclusivity. Today, @K2TheSwift joins us in XGS Publishing to accelerate our Innovation and collaborate with independent studios to build games for the cloud.

Welcome to the team, Kim! pic.twitter.com/pM3E5Xxyrt

— Xbox Game Studios Publishing (@XboxPublishing) June 21, 2021

Kim Swift is known for her work at Valve. After developing Portal and Left 4 Dead (among other Valve titles), she then worked for Amazon Game Studios, Ouya, and even created the puzzle game Quantum Conundrum for Square Enix before doing work at Google Stadia and EA Motive. The latter company is probably going to announce a new Dead Space title this July.