14 DAY TRIAL // The boss of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment division (aka the Xbox business), Don Mattrick, left his position to join Zynga as CEO yesterday, and at least one analyst believes that the departure was prompted by the faulty DRM strategy used by the company for the Xbox One next-gen console.
Don Mattrick led Microsoft's Xbox business during the Xbox 360 glory days and oversaw the development of the Xbox One in the past few years.
The next-gen console, however, was severely affected by its restrictive DRM strategy, which imposed restrictions on used games and required Internet access every 24 hours.
While Microsoft backtracked on these measures and eliminated them, the damage had already been done and, according to IDC Research Manager Lewis Ward, Mattrick's departure was prompted by this fact, as either he was unsatisfied with the decision or Microsoft's leadership was unsatisfied with his choices.
"The timing seems awful to me. I could see Mattrick departing for greener pastures a year after the Xbox One launches, but to exit 5 months before the new platform arrives strikes me as strange," Ward told GI.
"I think this news will make some revisit and question the wisdom of the entire Xbox One strategy, at least among those who follow console platforms closely. One can only assume MS performed an internal review of how the Xbox One chose its misguided DRM and connected console strategy (before the post-E3 'Xbox 180') and found the buck stopped with Mattrick."
More details about the move might soon appear, probably straight from Microsoft who will readjust the leadership in its Xbox position to reflect a new strategy, according to Ward.
"Xbox has otherwise been on a tear for the past 2 years and appears reasonably well positioned for growth. Perhaps some reason related to the broader Microsoft reorg will come to light in the next few weeks but it's hard not to read this departure as a referendum on the current status of Xbox One, and Microsoft is clearly looking for a new direction."
As of yet, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed that he's going to take on an active role in the launch of the Xbox One this November.