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Marc Whitten leaves Microsoft

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Marc whitten

Microsoft is certainly going through a reshuffle. The Xbox division has been faced with tons of changes – and now there’s another one. Marc Whitten, Chief Product Officer of Xbox, will be leaving the team to become Chief Product Officer of Sonos. What’s going on at Xbox?

Whitten has been with Microsoft for well over a decade. According to the Xbox Wire with this announcement:

Marc joined the Xbox team in 2000 and delivered three console generations, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox, along with helping to build Xbox Live and making it one of the world’s top online communities with 48 million members in 41 countries

[…] “I have had the extreme pleasure over the last 14 years to work on the greatest product with the greatest team and for the greatest community,” said Whitten. “Xbox is so special because of the amazing team I’ve had the opportunity to work with and because our fans are the most incredible fans on the planet. It has been the highlight of my career to work on a product so loved. It’s incredibly tough to leave but I am confident the best days are ahead for Xbox fans, in the capable hands of a very talented team.”

Really? Leaving the Xbox brand to go work on a company that makes wireless speakers? Sonos sounds like a nice company, but they can’t have offered that nice a carrot to lure Whitten from a company he’s been with for 14 years. There must have been some impetus to leave.

It seems that not everyone is happy with the change in management happening at Redmond. It may mean change is coming to Microsoft, although whether for the better or worse is hard to gauge at this point. With Don Matrick willing to leave to join Zynga, and Whitten jumping to Sonos, I can’t help but wonder if there’s an “anywhere is better than here” mentality. What is going on behind those closed doors?

Last Updated: March 18, 2014

87 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief of comments

    March 18, 2014 at 10:04

    • Hammersteyn

      March 18, 2014 at 10:14

      sneaky

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 10:15

        Sneak attack… ninja style!

        Reply

  2. TiMsTeR

    March 18, 2014 at 10:05

    My mathematical calculations, indicate that Xbox One has BIG issues that nobody wants to talk about.

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    March 18, 2014 at 10:07

    What’s going on is a lot of people gambled their careers on everyone loving an always-online TV box that can also play games. They lost.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR

      March 18, 2014 at 10:11

      Exactly, see the thing is as I am sure you and many know. If people wanted to worry about tv, they would get Cable or satellite tv or use netflix ect. People buy consoles to play games, yes they also want some benefits of being able to watch bluray movies, DVDS and play mp3s but anything more is simply a waste. Games should always come first.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        March 18, 2014 at 10:12

        Can they watch Blu-rays on it yet?

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR

          March 18, 2014 at 10:15

          That is a good question..

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:16

            Screw you hatas! At least the boner can snap apps!!! SNAP APPS XBOX ONE!

          • TiMsTeR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:19

            In the near future, when one snaps to tv the game drops from 720p to 480p

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:23

            Winning!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 18, 2014 at 10:20

            BACK, GET BACK! The power of the jacket compels you!

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:23

            No Don Mattrick… NOT THE JACKET! NOT THE JACKET!!!!

          • Hammersteyn

            March 18, 2014 at 10:20

            THE FOX IS BACK! No,no, wait…. my mistake

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:22

            Hahaha Banana Jim forgot to sign in with his Foxhound account

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:23

            Screw you guys! I’m not FOXHOUND!!! You’re ALL FOXHOUND!!!

          • Admiral Chief of comments

            March 18, 2014 at 10:25

            I suspect Foxy will make a return today, since Jim is back…

          • Hammersteyn

            March 18, 2014 at 10:26

            I dunno hey………

          • TiMsTeR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:27

            The one who smelt it dealt it.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 18, 2014 at 10:28

            So HvR is Foxhound? O_O

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:29

            Goddamit Tanya can’t do anything right.

          • TiMsTeR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:34

            One who gets angry over spilt milk has other evil intentions.

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 11:05

            I think I’ve been quite open about my evil intentions.

            Also will never defend or praise M$, even as a joke via a fake personality.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 18, 2014 at 10:16

            I know. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. Only stupid people.

  4. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    March 18, 2014 at 10:09

    Elop is just preparing to do a Nokia to the Xbox division.

    http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/19665_large_64725-stephen-elop.jpeg

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    March 18, 2014 at 10:12

    Clever people are clever. Cashing out before bubble bursts. Methinks Titanbox bundle is selling well, but not well enough

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      March 18, 2014 at 10:14

      The power of Elop must not be underestimated! He will turn this ship around and transform it into a titan mecha!

      The cloud has nothing on Elop!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 18, 2014 at 10:16

        XBOX mobile gaming coming soon.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          March 18, 2014 at 10:16

          Only on Windows Phone!

          Reply

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:18

            Which is actually a Nokia

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:19

            Elop rubs his hands together “Good Good!”

          • Hammersteyn

            March 18, 2014 at 10:20

            And thus Nokia became THE smart phone to use and so they regained their crown.

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:22

            Nokia’s secret coup to take over Microsoft was taught to them by the sociopathic creatures who play Eve Online.

            Infiltrate massive corporation
            Create disorder
            ???
            Profit and Takeover!!

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      March 18, 2014 at 10:21

  6. HvR

    March 18, 2014 at 10:15

    Marc Whitten is afraid of BIll Gates

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      March 18, 2014 at 11:01

      Hahaha love those episodes… the console wars.

      Reply

  7. RinceIsIngwer

    March 18, 2014 at 10:16

    Mmm, people still push that MS are making millions with the One, yet the rats are fleeing faster than an Xbox One fanboys ‘witty defence’ of the NSA approved unit? Me thinks big problems…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 18, 2014 at 10:18

      Both fans witty defense

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 10:18

        Two guys one cup?

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          March 18, 2014 at 10:19

          *avo sandwich is now less delicious*

          Reply

          • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:24

          • Hammersteyn

            March 18, 2014 at 10:25

            dafuq

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:26

            I was actually expecting something with horses and cups. … and avo ice cream.

          • Hammersteyn

            March 18, 2014 at 10:29

            same here, but that gif is weird

          • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:30

            The internet has delivered 😀

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:56

            Unbelievable

        • HvR

          March 18, 2014 at 10:21

          Two guys one horse

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:24

            Two horse one guy?

          • HvR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:24

            That is probably why Marc left.

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 18, 2014 at 10:20

      Shut up you undercover Sony fanboi!

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR

      March 18, 2014 at 10:30

      Remember how I predicted the Xbox Ones demise over a game of Golf in Gta Online.. Remember to TRUST in Tim…

      Reply

      • RinceIsIngwer

        March 18, 2014 at 10:30

        I remember OVG predicting it before it was even out 😛

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          March 18, 2014 at 10:32

          I suspect OVG is actually a much better analyst than Pach.

          Reply

          • RinceIsIngwer

            March 18, 2014 at 10:33

            Agreed!

        • TiMsTeR

          March 18, 2014 at 10:32

          Then GREAT mind think alike.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 18, 2014 at 10:41

            Fools never differ. *run*

          • VampyreSquirrel

            March 18, 2014 at 11:02

            And they keep losing at golf too 😛

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 10:32

        🙁 I wish I could play with you guys…

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          March 18, 2014 at 10:32

          Come on guys get PS4s….

          Reply

        • TiMsTeR

          March 18, 2014 at 10:33

          Why not play real golf with Nick and the boys?

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:34

            They’re too tall. Tall people scare me. It sucks being only 3 foot tall. 🙁

          • TiMsTeR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:35

            I am sure you just being modest. Your only 5ft tall.

          • TiMsTeR

            March 18, 2014 at 10:35

            you’re*

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:39

            Like a boss! But I really want to meet the lads. I just wasn’t in town the last few times… :/

  8. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    March 18, 2014 at 10:18

    Agent Phil is performing his duties. Kaz is pleased!

    Reply

  9. Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

    March 18, 2014 at 10:20

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 18, 2014 at 10:25

      Because it’s a Titanic fail? tee hee

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR

      March 18, 2014 at 10:28

      One abandons ship before it hits the iceberg.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 10:31

        Real men go down with the ship!!! Or at least tell their employees that, and secures a new job before the shit hits the proverbial fan

        Reply

  10. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    March 18, 2014 at 10:30

    But seriously though, as Zoe pointed out, something must be up if you leave a company like Microsoft to go work for a company that produces speakers…. (no offence to Sonos)

    Reply

    • RinceIsIngwer

      March 18, 2014 at 10:31

      Zyanga? Too soon?

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 10:33

        I still think the hate Don Mattrick received was unfortunate. Poor Jacket…. At least Zynga will recover through the secret sauce that Mattrick possesses.

        Reply

        • RinceIsIngwer

          March 18, 2014 at 10:34

          Still waiting for that to happen…

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            March 18, 2014 at 10:37

            (If I was an xboner this would have been my reply):

            a) The Cloud will unleash the secret sauce. You guys just need to believe! 😛

            b) Graphics and resolution aren’t everything. It’s all about the gameplay!!

            http://www.mashbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/secret-sauce.jpg

          • RinceIsIngwer

            March 18, 2014 at 10:39

            HAHA! Nice 😉

        • TiMsTeR

          March 18, 2014 at 10:34

          secret sauce lol this aint macdonalds or burger king

          Reply

    • TiMsTeR

      March 18, 2014 at 10:32

      Dude it’s obvious, They prob realized now from the devs that their are perhaps huge bottlenecks due to esRAM or something and the PS4 just breezes through the issues. It’s too late to go and fix stuff now. They screwed over the system and with all this snapping bullshit just takes away more than it gives.

      Reply

    • HvR

      March 18, 2014 at 11:03

      Bigger isn’t always better.

      Not necessarily means something sinister is up at MS, other reasons to leave is the realization that he could not advance his career with the new top structures or that his vision and the new bean counters’ keypoints do not align.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        March 18, 2014 at 11:07

        Probably! He probably had sights on becoming CEO one day, and with Balmer stepping down and Nadella stepping up for the innings, it’s either wait another decade or cross the glass ceiling at Sonos. However, we have been seeing a number of MS execs jumping ship (especially from the xbox division over the course of the last year) and that in itself is more telling. Then they had that major reshuffling with Gates returning, and that definitely indicates something is up.

        Reply

  11. Sk3tz0

    March 18, 2014 at 11:04

    Imagine the spam this poor oke gets by delusional xbox fanboys that think he the reaason this is crap or that not up to their delusional par.. I’d go work for wireless speakers company aswell..

    Reply

  12. CypherGate

    March 18, 2014 at 11:37

    I just realized… Nintendo has been quite quiet lately… All this Microsoft and X1 issues and problems has taken the spotlight. Makes me wonder whats Nintendo up to since the WiiU isnt really going places…

    Reply

  13. Eric

    March 18, 2014 at 11:54

    Well perhaps they’ve made enough working from Microsoft to sustain their livelihoods and now they just want something a bit less in the spotlight.

    Reply

  14. Sageville

    March 18, 2014 at 12:43

    At this rate the only Xbox peeps left at Microsoft will be the guys boxing the damn thing.

    Reply

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