Ed Fries Leaves Microsoft's Game Unit

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."

Comments

Translation

[El]

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."

Translation: "My stock options are vested, and I'm getting the hell out before they go down the toilet."

Interesting

[Eluding Reality]

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

rag to riches

[kryptoknight]

"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.

Hmm

[NanoGator]

I predict there'll be a lot of theories about how this is evidence that Microsoft is bad even though the simplest explanation is that it isn't his dream job.

Re:Hmm

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

Yup, just below your post, the problem surfaces. There is a world of possible reasons why this guy left that don't involve the actual company itself. Of course, on Slashdot - it's got to be because the downfall of MS is right around the corner.