Peter Moore kickin' it at EA Sports

[UPDATE 3] Xbox 360's most public advocate to head third-party publisher's sports games arm; Don Mattrick named as replacement, Sony welcomes former rival.

Normally, the week after the Electronic Entertainment Expo is relatively quiet. This year, though, saw a bombshell rock the game industry four days after the E3 Media & Business Summit closed shop.

Goodbye Microsoft, hello EA Sports!

GameSpot has confirmed that Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the entertainment and devices division of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, is quitting. The announcement comes less than one week after Moore hosted Microsoft's E3 press briefing. It also comes just under two weeks after he announced the extension of the Xbox 360's manufacturer's warranty to three years. Prompted by rising reports of hardware defects that Moore had previously downplayed, the move will cost Microsoft as much as $1.15 billion last quarter alone.

The closeness of the 360's warranty extension and Moore's departure has raised some eyebrows, given his prior steadfast dismissals and evasions on any 360 hardware issues. Even more ironic will be the fact that Moore's new gig will have him helping to hype games on the 360's archrivals--the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

Electronic Arts has confirmed to GameSpot that Peter Moore has been tapped to become the new president of EA Sports. The move will put Moore in charge of one of the top third-party publisher's four divisions, which were established in a recent company-wide reorganization. EA Sports develops and publishes the popular Madden NFL, NBA Live, Tiger Woods, and FIFA franchise, as well as the just-released NCAA Football 08.

Though some might consider it a demotion, Moore's move is the latest chapter in a long and storied career in the game industry. Before becoming the Xbox's chief spokesperson in 2003, he was president and COO of Sega of America. During his tenure there, he presided over the Sonic Factory's transition from console-maker to third-party publisher in the wake of the Dreamcast's demise.

[UPDATE] Wasting no time in filling the abrupt vacancy, Microsoft also announced today that the reins for its interactive entertainment business have been passed to Don Mattrick. Altogether fitting in light of Moore's new digs, Mattrick served as Electronic Arts' president of worldwide studios until February 2006. The seasoned exec has been working as an external advisor for Microsoft's entertainment and devices division since February 2007, and will transition into his new role of senior vice president of interactive entertainment business effective July 30. Moore will remain at Microsoft through August to aid in Mattrick's transition.

[UPDATE 2] Moore's move was also greeted with kind words from a former archrival. Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton issued a statement warmly welcoming Moore to EA Sports, which develops a range of PS3 titles. "We wish Peter the best of luck in his new role at Electronic Arts and look forward to working with him," he said. "We have an outstanding relationship with EA and their sports products have been incredibly successful on all our platforms. I am sure this will continue with Peter now at the helm."

[UPDATE 3] Last but not least, later in the day an EA SEC filing revealed Moore's generous salary package, which includes a $1.5 million signing bonus.

623 Comments

  • cuitexcutei

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 3:23 am PT

    Ironic...just ironic

  • aygol

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 3:08 am PT

    He did it for money, of course.

  • Envoy_X

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 3:07 am PT

    What happened to J. Allard?

  • kiddoom93

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 2:35 am PT

    xbox have took a huge blow because he was the brains

  • -CheeseEater-

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 2:09 am PT

    Legend.

  • Audio817

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 2:08 am PT

    @ronniepage588
    "damn, moore is loaded. 1.5 million just to sign on. its like hes some famous professional football player."

    He actually used to be a professional football player o_o

  • Cloud737

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 2:08 am PT

    Wow, now this is sorta surprising. I thought Moore was "M$ for Life!!!" by the way he stood up and supported the 360. Guess it wasn`t that he was fanatic, but more like really devoted towards his work, whatever that would be. For that, I can really respect him. Thinking about it, he really pissed me off in several interviews because he was either beating around the bush, avoiding questions, or lying blatantly. If I think about that now, considering it was just devotion towards his work, I think I can`t really hold a grudge against him anymore. Well, good luck in whatever you`ll do, Peter!!
    And talk about switching sides, this really is a surprise. It`s almost as a trick swap. M$ gets former president and puts him as vice president, EA gets former vice president and puts him as president.
    What I don`t understand, though, is why does his job be to hype just the PS3 and Wii version of games? Doesn`t EA also make games for the 360?
    Oh well, it seems Moore is happy, got a paycheck, and doesn`t have to put up to all the torture M$ puts him through. I call that a great deal!

  • BlackandWhite3

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:58 am PT

    Microsoft have losted a great guy.
    I always enjoyed watching/listening to him about 360. He always seemed into it and knew what was happening

  • SaitouZero

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:56 am PT

    I'm really sad cause I always liked Peter Moore, I thought he did a great job at Sega and MS and he told it like it was, but EA is a company I despise, EA Sports even more so, so I'm really sad to see him go there.

  • MoegleeMyster

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:25 am PT

    too many fan boys on this site

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:24 am PT

    I think M$ treat Moore poorly. He said 360 may support Blu-ray. M$ shot him down hard. He clearly is not in control of the Xbox division. In M$, you have two groups of executives "in" or "out". I guess Moore is "out".
    ================================================
    Then he has to take the hit of Xbox hardware recall. Poor him.. He stood there all by himself. The guys like Robbie Bash and J Allard who design the 360, should give him some support and explain to us gamer, what is going on? No! Watch Moore one interview after another, it is just un-human. I think he had enough. He lost a lot of creditability in this. They are cooks, he properly think. =================================================
    It seems EA and M$ have swap executives. Don Mattrick was working for EA "The need for speed". Either way, EA relationship with M$ is getting closer. =================================================
    People will properly compare Moore with Ken Katuragi. I think they are in different league to start with. If Moore was hired by Sony instead of Sega back then, he would be today Sony's Philip Harrison. Kids, remember this, don't put your career on a sinking ship.

  • Metallicadam379

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:16 am PT

    I wonder if he will favor the 360 in his new job.

  • ---n00b_kid--- posted Jul 18, 2007 1:11 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ---n00b_kid---

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:11 am PT (hide)

    The 360 is a sinking ship, you either get out of the ship or stop the ship from sinking !!!

  • sirvampalot

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 12:58 am PT

    Sony fan boys get a life.He's only changing job's for more money.If a sony exc was getting a 1.5 million signing bonus to move ,he would move in a heartbeat.

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 12:47 am PT

    It looks like it was a family motivated decision. It seemed like an odd move until I read this quote. (not that 1.5 mil hurts eather)

    "I couldn’t be more excited about joining EA and moving my family back to the San Francisco Bay Area."

  • darkflame202113

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 12:43 am PT

    yeah, tommorow Bill Gate will leave microsoft and went for sony!

  • slabbe

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 12:16 am PT

    "Can you smell what the rock is cooking!!!

    Peter knows that the 360 is about to start it's decline after the PS3's superior performance at E3. He is a very smat lad indeed and know when to jump out of a sinking ship"

    LOL u wish ps3 su*** they had the most borring press conferance and the lack of games was HUGE. killzone 2 hahah i laugh at the graphics that made it look worse then promised in the trailer it really showed that PS3fanboys as usual would just swolov the loads of bull that sony throughs at them.

  • 2TonyMontana

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 12:08 am PT

    Jeebus, what a crazy twist, you'd think M. Night Shyamalan was making this up.

  • limitt45

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:58 pm PT

    i herd he he left because his new job at EA will allow him to live closer to his family

  • fresh2deafbill

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:54 pm PT

    wow. i care?

  • Roughan-

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:45 pm PT

    wow. that is all.

  • terenceyyk

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:40 pm PT

    New tattoos on legs, one for each: Sony, Nintendo

  • alienware7

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:39 pm PT

    Well Fetch! Hmmmm...still no sign of J Allard coming back.

  • rickshao

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:28 pm PT

    Good bye, good luck, good riddance!

  • vf21x posted Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    vf21x

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm PT (hide)

    Can you smell what the rock is cooking!!!

    Peter knows that the 360 is about to start it's decline after the PS3's superior performance at E3. He is a very smat lad indeed and know when to jump out of a sinking ship.

  • Hell_Dude

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 11:21 pm PT

    I now hate him, he was my favourite spokesman and a great xbox dude.

  • malache-96

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:56 pm PT

    TRAITOR!!!

  • kostasfil

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:44 pm PT

    Guys are we sure that EA is not planning to make a new console?!?!?!The only console where will be possible to play Madden,Nba live,Fifa,Crysis,Need 4 speed and all the other 3rd party titles?What about their moto:Challenge Everything....?!?!I don't know,but the fact they took the man who launched 2 consoles(dreamcast,x360),with a certain experience in the console market makes me think a lot of things...

  • mkurts posted Jul 17, 2007 10:40 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mkurts

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:40 pm PT (hide)

    Another casualty in the Microsoft ranks .....

    Not a good company to have any sort of a career with ....

  • Sandlynx9

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:32 pm PT

    Kind of a shock! I didn't expect to see something like this so soon after E3. Esp. from the MS front man.

  • rocky2k32000 posted Jul 17, 2007 10:23 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    rocky2k32000

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:23 pm PT (hide)

    LOL. rushed console, rushed games (***cough*** halo hd) rushed everything.

  • Thigeic

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:17 pm PT

    I just love seeing the comments about the PS3 will die and fall and fail ect. I belive the PS3 will sell the most in the end. In a couple of years. The 360 will end up second, with alot more sold then the Xbox did. And the Wii will fall after. Everyone is buying the Wii now, but that will probebly sudenly stop. Becouse face it.. its just showing off what Nintendo can do with there next consol. the wii just isent strong enough.

    For Moore, ill miss him alot, he was great when he was on the stage. Best guy in MS imo

  • Hellscreamdra

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:15 pm PT

    @HK-47-M4

    You're a **** idiot. Konami stated during this years entire e3 that they don't think it would sell enough on the Ps3 for them to make development money back on it. And they are contemplating making it for the Wii and X360 to help make the money back.

    Ps3 is lacking in both console sales, and game sales. This move won't do anything to Sony. At all. All it effects is MS and Mattrick. P.S. Stop saying "or even years" when you said i dont want to wait for UT3 or Haze to come out on x360. UT is coming out 2 months after the Ps3 version. Get your **** **** straight before you open your god damn mouth. If anything it'll look better on x360 just because of the extra time for polishing and cleaning out the bugs the ps3 one will show. Just like every timed exclusive.

  • ChiefHunter1

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:10 pm PT

    Oh, HK-47-M4 already corrected you. No need for my previous comment; I was only being redundant!

  • ChiefHunter1

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 10:07 pm PT

    Darth-Slayer, I believe that UT3 isnt a PS3 exclusive but will have a delayed release on the 360. Correct me if Im wrong.

  • HK-47-M4

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:57 pm PT

    People please stop saying the PS3 games are going to suck now that Peter Moore is president. He is no longer affiliated with Microsoft, but EA. That means as President of EA he will do his best to make sure all EA games are as good as they could be, regardless what console they are on. Besides I bet his last few months haven't been to great there with the billion dollar loss. With Sony welcoming him I would feel safer saying the games on the PS3 will be better than their 360 counterparts. Honestly people think before you write. I bet he couldn't care less about Microsoft now, whatever pays more you go to.

  • Ernice

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:56 pm PT

    whats he going to do at EA Sports anyway ? its not as if they do alot but release the same game with a different number year after year. shucks, what a big waste. he should be doing better things.

    but well, we can see why, $$$ is damn good

  • littlestreakier

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:55 pm PT

    wow i did not see this coming at all. i think Peter Moore did a great job as being the face of Microsoft while he was there, he helped the 360 become what it is today. Best of luck to Peter, you'll be missed

  • Sig12047

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:52 pm PT

    Whoa.... Unexpected.

  • HK-47-M4

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:48 pm PT

    @Darth_Slayer Yeah except it is to bad that Metal Gear Solid has been officially announced by Sony AND Konami which probably means they had a talk and a contract signing. In the TGS footage they said the Cell Processer was the key to MGS4, therefore it is not possible on the Xbox 360. And Haze and Unreal T3 are timed exclusives and I would not want to wait months or even years for them to come out on the 360. Plus you can use mods on the PS3 version for UT3. And BTW Heavenly Sword was originally a 360 exclusive but then Microsoft said they didn't want it and then Sony said they did which is why it's exclusive.

  • TVR_Fan

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:43 pm PT

    Its going to be funny, when Moore pushes games on the PS3 alongside the Wii and the Xbox 360 as well.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:27 pm PT

    MGS 4 is NEVER COMING to 360.
    Get over it.

    Either buy a PS3 to play the game or don't play it at all.

    It is PS3 exclusive now and forever will be.

    Like DMC4, VF5, UT3, and Haze am I rite?

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:16 pm PT

    Goodbye, Peter. We'll miss you.

  • ronniepage588

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:14 pm PT

    damn, moore is loaded. 1.5 million just to sign on. its like hes some famous professional football player.

  • xxSupermanSGSxx

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:12 pm PT

    Only thing about this that is interesting is that everyone knows all the EA sports titles are running at 60fps on the 360 exclusively this year. Jack Tretton was asked about this and said that will be the last time as EA will be developing the games strictly for the PS3. They will either do joint development seprately for both systems or port down, but with Moore in charge you wonder if he will have enough of an influence to dictate what is done next year.

  • caesarbites

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:11 pm PT

    Well, I guess this means that all EA games will now be broken right out of the box. I'm just kidding. They've more times than not been broken right out of the box, anyway.

  • Vyce3

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:03 pm PT

    I wonder if his decision to leave has anything to do with the recent debacles from his department. The XBOX hasn't made a single dime these past two generations and they now have a 1.2 billion dollar bill for repairs Peter Moore used to claim weren't necessary...
    Anyways

  • casmar82 posted Jul 17, 2007 9:01 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    casmar82

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 9:01 pm PT (hide)

    Well now Xbox 360 has 2 arms to tatoo, one is MGS4 the other FF13.

  • osxgp

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 8:57 pm PT

    $1.5 million signing bonus? Sounds like he's a sports star.

  • VolcanoMan001

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 8:52 pm PT

    I think all the all the speculation is just plain silly. The fact is he left because EA waved 1.5 million dollars in his face. I would leave too.

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