14 DAY TRIAL // Yes, you read that right: Microsoft's Corporate Vice-President of the Interactive Entertainment Business division (including the Xbox and Xbox 360 game consoles), Peter Moore has resigned from his position with the company. He's not unemployed though (I'm sure at least one person asked himself/herself this stupid question), but moving to EA to take Don Mattrick's place (industry veteran and former president of Electronic Arts).
According to the official report, Peter Moore has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry. Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.
"Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go," said Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360?, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console's ascent."
Moore lived with his family in Northern California until he took the position at Microsoft. Moore will remain at Microsoft to assist in the transition through August and will then return to the San Francisco Bay area.
As far as Mattrick is concerned, he brings 23 years of games industry and development experience to the strong Microsoft management team, having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as the "Need for Speed," "Harry Potter" and "The Sims" while at EA.
We wish the best to both of them and let this swapping be the beginning of an even more fruitful relationship between EA and Microsoft's gaming division. I guess the 360 is going to see some fine exclusives next year (not that it didn't see a lot of exclusive content before).