Microsoft has brought another veteran of video game publisher Electronic Arts on board to helm Microsoft live software and services, including Xbox Live, Games for Windows, and Microsoft Casual Games. Shappert will step into a newly created position as corporate vice president, reporting to another former EA executive, Don Mattrick, who recently took over Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business from Peter Moore. And Moore? He left Microsoft to head up EA Sports. Confused yet?
At Microsoft, Shappert will oversee Microsoft’s 7 million-strong Xbox Live business, along with Games for Windows, XNA, and Microsoft Casual Games (which mostly pumps casual titles out via MSN Games, Windows Live Messenger, and Xbox Live Arcade. At Electronic Arts, Shappert most recently oversaw technology development and operations for EA’s online efforts, and served as the company’s chief creative officer; before that, he worked as a programmer on EA’s Madden NFL franchise. Shappert founded Tiburon Entertainment in 1994, which was acquired by EA in 1998.
"I am thrilled to have John join the deep bench of proven talent already on Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business," Don Mattrick said in a statement. "John’s expertise will help us focus on expanding and enriching our market leadership with LIVE in areas like online services while broadening our audience."
Shappert’s transition to Microsoft is being interpreted by some as a sign of Microsoft’s confidence in Mattrick: by letting Mattrick bring in his own people from outside the Microsoft organization, Microsoft clearly hopes to accelerate its Xbox, online gaming, and online video businesses. Xbox Live has been one of the highlights of Microsoft’s Xbox business, bringing in more subscribers—and more revenue—than the company anticipated.
