“One Microsoft”: Ballmer Finally Announces “Far-Reaching Realignment” Around Devices and Services

AllthingsD: Microsoft announced today what CEO Steve Ballmer is calling a “far-reaching realignment of the company that will enable us to innovate with greater speed, efficiency and capability in a fast changing world.”

[KrisButtar]

So is this good or bad for the Xbox brand with these new leaderheads

[allformats]

Can't tell yet. But the new boss of Xbox isn't a gamer so... But yeah, we won't be able to tell yet.

[KrisButtar]

Shouldn't matter if there are gamers or not. Don Mattrick was a gamer and look at what he was doing recently before he left. :/

[CrossingEden]

you do realize that being a gamer has nothing to do with being a gamer right? i've seen people criticizing keith sutherland for not being a gamer yet voicing a video game character, seriously, people need a reality check

[Anon1974]

Ugh. Am I the only one that sees this "unity" push to mean "We're going to try to push everything on everyone."

The game division is a drastically different beast from Microsoft's other software and business elements and should be treated as such, not lumped in together and mashed up with other brands and software. I don't need an Xbox with MS Office, for example.

As for Julie Larson-Green not being a gamer, it's irrelevant. A good leader knows how to surround themselves with competent people who know their business. She oversaw the excellent launch of Windows 7. I don't foresee her cred as a "gamer" to be an issue.

I'll reserve judgement as it'll probably take quite some time before the impact to Microsoft's gaming business becomes apparent, but I really hope they don't try cramming every damn service available into the Xbox One.

"Search Bing on your Windows phone, connected with your Xbox One, and use the power of the cloud to see your friends on your surface tablet in a Excel worksheet while you skype your buddy about the value of our EA partnership all while watching enhanced football and updating your fantasy league while simultaneously running updates on your networked Windows 8 PC with a complex series of Kinect gestures that look like Tai Chi, all from your Xbox One. Isn't it great!"

Resist the urge! There's a difference between adding features and throwing in everything plus the kitchen sink. Just look at the reaction from your fans when you focused your reveal on everything but games. You appeared to learn your lesson at E3, but don't throw it away.

[Belking]

lol..you have to be a gamer to oversee something. I bet the people who run this site aren't even gamers...lol

[sengoku]

you can laugh about the head of a division being a gamer or not but the fact that someone can imaging what you as a buyer want or simply does not get it makes a hell of a lot of difference.

[Grindlefly]

@darkride66
"Search Bing on your Windows phone, connected with your Xbox One, and use the power of the cloud to see your friends on your surface tablet in a Excel worksheet while you skype your buddy about the value of our EA partnership all while watching enhanced football and updating your fantasy league while simultaneously running updates on your networked Windows 8 PC with a complex series of Kinect gestures that look like Tai Chi, all from your Xbox One. Isn't it great!"

LMFAO! Awesome comment

[Minato-Namikaze]

But you do want gamers making game decisions. Sony has Mark cerney (a gamer) designing the PS4 and Shuhei Yoshida(a gamer) is the president of worldwide studios, Jack tretton (a gamer) is the head of SCEA.

Its not a necessity but it makes me feel more comfortable knowing gamers are making decisions about a console and the type of games they should release.

[komp]

Full on re shuffle.
http://www.marketwatch.com/...

“Windows code is in everything, so I think this will be about aligning resources and management that optimizes efficiency and focuses strategy on that.”

It’s possible that some of what Microsoft has planned has already taken place. Last week, Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, left the company to become chief executive of social-gaming company Zynga Inc. ZNGA +1.48% . Microsoft has not yet named Mattrick’s official successor; Ballmer said the various heads of the Xbox business will report to him.

[windblowsagain]

Where can i buy a new water cooler.

The xboxonestopshop.

Just a joke guys.:)

[Docknoss]

That was one of the lamest comments I've ever seen on n4g

[MonChiChi]

Haha only thing running in my head as of late with MS is : ”That's right, say words!”
From American Dad.

[ThyPizzaGod]

Lets see what the future holds for us gamers!