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Microsoft's game platform director leaves for Amazon

Rumors that omnipresent online retailer may be expanding digital games initiative grow with addition of Xbox Live guru Andre Vrignaud.

In a March note to investors, Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian mentioned "Our periodic checks of job postings uncovered a search by Amazon in the video game category to help implement a new digital distribution platform. …We expect Amazon to pursue new opportunities as an aggregator of online games, similar to Steam (PC), BigPoint (browser) and others. … Overall, Amazon currently has roughly 1,250 open positions, with a concentration on software development with 511 open requisitions (41 percent of total)."

Amazon poached one of the founding fathers of Xbox Live.

Amazon poached one of the founding fathers of Xbox Live.

Today, more evidence surfaced that Amazon is expanding its ambitions in online game distribution. On his personal blog (via Gamasutra), Microsoft director of game platform strategy Andre Vrignaud announced he has exited the Xbox 360 maker for a new position at Amazon.

"I make this announcement with mixed emotions as I'm excited about where Microsoft is going in the next few years as they look to reinvent digital entertainment…but I'm also obviously very intrigued about what Amazon is looking to do," he said.

Vrignaud joined Microsoft eight years ago to head the Xbox Live team, which at that point he described as "maybe 30 people in a hallway." He helped shape Xbox Live into the 25-million-member service it now is, overcoming much skepticism along the way.

"I remember folks insisting that voice would never be desired from the console audience, or that this whole crazy digital content download Marketplace thing would never take off," reminisced Vrignaud. "And, of course, quite a few folks struggled to believe that Xbox Live would be a service that people would be willing to pay for."

What Vrignaud will be doing at Amazon is unclear. "Can't really talk about details at this point, but it'll become pretty evident soon enough…and you all know where my passions lie," he teased. However, one clue might have come last month, when the omnipresent online retailer ceased selling Xbox Live Arcade game codes.

16 Comments

  • Evenios

    Posted Sep 8, 2010 11:01 am GMT

    heh amazon would be for the win if they had some sort of game download service! i likes amazon!

  • maybock3000

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 6:30 pm GMT

    Best of luck to him!

  • Col-Struckin

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 5:03 pm GMT

    Another mile stone

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 3:27 pm GMT

    it looks like it could be a good thing for amazon, and microsoft. so... congrats.

  • twistedmalice

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 1:05 pm GMT

    Good for this guy. I would like to see what Amazon is going to do.

  • TSNAKE617

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 1:02 pm GMT

    I love Amazon, so I hope they do well. They just need to work on their "deals" though. The best deals from them are when an employee screws up and gives something the wrong price.

  • somberfox

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:55 pm GMT

    Amazon really seems to be getting serious about game stuff, what with the really nice game credit deals they've had recently, plus the reduction of release day delivery cost on pre-orders to only 99 cents.

  • blueguykisame

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:46 pm GMT

    it would be great if i could buy all full 360 games on demand via amazon on my xbox 360 and at retail price, not prices that double what i can get the game for at gamestop.

  • Merex760

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:31 pm GMT

    By reinventing digital entertainment, he meant Kinect, raising the cost of Xbox Live, and less exclusives than ever for the 360, right?

  • advanracer

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:30 pm GMT

    ..and that's for $10 dollars more folks. XD.

  • hotdiddykong

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:28 pm GMT

    If raising prices means bigger sales then MAYBE this could be good, unless something happens that will ruin it

  • dRuGGeRnaUt

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:20 pm GMT

    "And, of course, quite a few folks struggled to believe that Xbox Live would be a service that people would be willing to pay for."

    And now also have the glorious destinction of being able to pay MORE now $10(us) a year more!! but wait!! if you call RIGHT NOW you'll get ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXTRA!!! THAT"S RIGHT!!! PAY MORE GET NOTHING!!!

    I wouldn't have had such a prob with MS raising xbox live $$$, but they could of at LEAST made up some fake reason, but instead: "*DERP* we want more money *holds out hand*"

    Sony releases PSN+ with the prospect of free games and stuff, MS counters by hiking their subscription rate.. I think MS is getting all the $$$ while they can...

    All I have really played this gen is 360, and a little PS3 at a buddies house, but I can say im getting really sick MS' **** *** * **** **.. /end rant

  • Zero5000X

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 12:00 pm GMT

    I'm glad because Steam needs more competition and Amazon is the retailer I like the most. I'm also hoping Blizzard turns Battle.net into a more broad DD service that incorporates third parties similar to Steam.

  • ChiefFreeman

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    Sounds cool. Competition with Steam and Direct2Drive will help keep prices competitive and give us more sales. I hope Amazon can pull it off.

  • SneekyRatchet

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 11:13 am GMT

    idk, y not? its not like a have the anwser...

  • beau_x

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 11:04 am GMT

    Interesting. Never thought of Amazon as a digital game dealer....but I guess with the success of Kindle and AmazonMP3, why not?

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