Xbox Exec Peter Moore Leaving Microsoft For EA Sports

No more Halo tattoos.

In a surprise move, Microsoft has announced that VP of Interactive Entertainment Peter Moore (left) will be leaving the firm. Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft (and Moore's boss), lauded Moore's tenure at MS:

Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go. Since that time, he presided over the global launch of the Xbox 360™, spearheaded a revitalized and rebranded Games for Windows business, and helped steer the console's ascent.

Meanwhile, Kotaku, which managed to scoop the MS press release by a few hours, has Moore landing in the top spot at EA Sports. Former EA exec Don Mattrick wil take Moore's spot.

GP: Perhaps the knowledge of his impending departure contributed to Moore's rather subdued performance at last week's E3 media briefing. Then again, GP's evil twin wonders whether Moore is walking the plank for the notorious red rings of death fiasco.

UPDATE: An EA press release now circulating says:

Peter Moore has joined EA as President of the EA SPORTS Label. Moore joins EA from Microsoft.. where he served as corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division, leading both the Xbox and Games for Windows businesses. Moore begins at EA in September and will report to EA CEO John Riccitiello.

GP notes that Riccitiello was spotted at the MS E3 media briefing last Tuesday evening.