Xbox boss Marc Whitten quits Microsoft

Microsoft veteran Marc Whitten, who worked as chief product officer and corporate vice president for the Xbox team, is leaving Microsoft to join Sonos also as its chief product officer.

The news was announced today on the Xbox Wire. Whitten joined Microsoft right out of college, beginning his career at the company as a software developer for Windows 2000. He joined the Xbox team in 2000 and helped launch the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Whitten also helped Microsoft launch Xbox Live

“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,” Whitten said in a statement. “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.”

Whitten's decision to exit Microsoft will not affect the remainder of the Xbox leadership team. Going forward, Whitten's staffers will report to executive vice president Terry Myerson, who oversees all Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox software and platform development. In a statement of his own, Myerson said he looks forward to finding a "great replacement" for Whitten.

Xbox marketing executive Yusuf Mehdi said Whitten played a "pivotal role" in building out the Xbox business over the past 14 years and has been a "great partner for me personally."

If you want to play against Whitten on Xbox Live, his gamertag is notwen.

Whitten is not the only high-ranking gaming executive to leave his post recently. Last week, veteran Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) president and CEO Jack Tretton announced his departure from the PlayStation company.

[CORRECTION] An earlier version of this story stated that the entire Xbox leadership team would report to Myerson going forward. GameSpot regrets the error.