Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ed Fries Leaves Microsoft's Game Unit

Posted by simoniker on from the fry-boy-go-bye-bye dept.

jnguy writes "According to Reuters, Ed Fries, Microsoft's game studio head, has resigned. The last major person to leave Microsoft in this fashion was Seamus Blackley. I wonder if this has any other meaning - I've seen Fries at many of Microsoft's parties and launch events, and consider him one of the biggest figures in Xbox history." CNN Money has further information on Fries' departure, noting that "he plans to remain in the gaming industry", and commenting that he was "actively involved in the development and launch of the Xbox gaming system and oversaw the acquisition of several major game developers, including Bungie Software... and Rare." They also have comments from Fries himself, as he muses on his future: "I'm looking for a situation where I have a lot of freedom around the development of our products and the way those products come to market. I've had some of that to date, but not as much as I would like."

7 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by Eluding+Reality · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The only major "product" that they would be developing just now would be the early stages of XBox2. Also he is far more likely to leave close to the beginning of the process, not bailing when its far into development.... basically what I'm trying to say is that development problems big enough to make one of the head developers of the console quit at such an early stage do not bode well for the future of the console

    Of course it could be something totally unrelated or development of something else...who knows

  2. rag to riches by kryptoknight · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Fries began his career at Microsoft in 1985 as a lowly intern in charge of online tutorials. Ten years later, he was put in charge of the Microsoft's games division, and brought an impressive group of developers--including Ensemble Studios' Bruce Shelley and Big Huge Games' Brian Reynolds. Fries was also at the helm during the Xbox launch in 2001, and was instrumental in Microsoft's acquisition of Halo-makers Bungie. "

    Too bad you don't see many intern-to-ceo (mailroom-to-ceo, janitor, etc) stories like this anymore.

    I think that with his close ties to Microsoft, Fries will continue to be affliated somehow to the xbox in his future endeavors.

  3. WAG... by OneFix+at+Work · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Just a WAG, but I would venture to say that this means that there very well may be problems at M$ with respects to the XBox and the XBox 2...

    The XBox hasn't really been labeled a huge success yet...and for a major exec to leave at the end of the XBox's life will not look good on his resume...

    This probably means that there are both problems with current XBox sales (this is pretty well know), current game development (companies like EA not developing for your console can have this effect), XBox 2 development (it's likely that they are making the same mistakes they made on the XBox)...

    But, then again, maybe this means that the XBox is getting ready to make a comeback and shoot past Sony for overall dominance in the console market and Ed just wanted to give someone else the limelight <snicker>

  4. It was probably buying Rare thad did him in... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The purchase of them was sort of stupid and cost alot of money. That's probably why he's "persuing other options."

    From what I hear Rare imploded after the acquisition.

    1. Re:It was probably buying Rare thad did him in... by Phil+Wilkins · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Rumour has it that Rare had already imploded before the purchase. Hence the Stampers urge to cash in. But then that's just a rumour, which I'm sure the next killer title from Rare will dispell.

  5. Rare did implode by Zevets · · Score: 2, Interesting
    After the disastrous "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" nearly all of Rare's projects have been canned except for Perfect Dark: Zero. Apparently the game creators cannot stand Microsoft's rules and the dev teams hate the hardware.

    End result: bad product, bad karma and a bunch of angry MS henchmen planning to kill them.

    --

    Mod Wisely.

  6. Something to Ponder... by unclethursday · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Blackley left last year. He started his own game development house (presumably with something to show at E3 this year, even if just tech demos).

    Fries left this year.

    Blackley and Fries were the 2 'game guys' out of the 4 of the main executive Xbox guys (Bach and Allard being the other 2). The other 2 are the 'technology and power!!!!' guys.

    Notice this announcment, even though it was apparently months in the making, comes almost right after Gates unveied the Xbox Media Extender at the CES. I hardly doubt that MS put the Xbox Media Extender together right before the CES.

    Perhaps the thought of the next Xbox being the UltimateTV-MSN TV-Media Extender Device-Xbox are true, then? Maybe Fries wanted it to be a game console only (or at least first), and Microsoft has decided that the next Xbox must become the center of the living room and the "Digital Lifestyle Experience" with as many MS products integrated in as possible?

    Whatever the case truly is, expect more talk to be of hardware, specs, and sh33r p0w3r!!!! over anything else when talking about the Xbox, and it's future incarnation (if it has one given the $2.135 BILLION lost since its launch) now that Fries and Blackley are both gone.