This should be officially confirmed later today, according to All Things D, but Don Mattrick is reportedly leaving Microsoft to take a top role at Zynga, potentially as the company's CEO.

Don Mattrick, the president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business — which centers on the Xbox and all the software giant’s gaming and entertainment efforts — is leaving the company, said multiple sources close to the situation.

These sources added that the high-profile executive is also close to taking a top job at Zynga, the troubled online social gaming company, possibly as its CEO and working in close partnership with its founder and current CEO Mark Pincus.

Sources said the announcement of Mattrick’s appointment could be made as soon as today, after the markets close.

A fate worst then death.

That's kind of like jumping out of one fire and into another.

I guess the internet really was right about him hating consumers, huh?

I'd say it's more like jumping from a fire onto a sinking ship... that is also on fire.

Good! Bring back J Allard!

One that rips off games and then charges microtransactions.

At least the ice cold water will put the fire out, right?

great, he was teh smarmiest motherfucker in that conference.

and that's saying something

Sounds about right.

Seems fitting.

I'm sure he'll fit right in.

I wonder if he picked to leave.

Can't knock him for probably getting a big ass paycheck, but, if I was at Zynga, I would not let this man answer any questions during an interview after the whole Xbox thing. In my opinion, he was largely responsible for the shitty press they were getting...

Whaaat. No wonder he was so bland and uninterested about Xbox at E3, he already had one foot out the door. But yeah no matter what bad press MS is getting at the moment (some of which he's to blame for), I know I'd rather work for MS than Zynga at this point.

A reconstruction of what happened (replace *Poochie with Mattrick) -

"For customers who lack the necessary funds to buy energy in CityVille, we already have a product - it's called Monopoly CityVille Edition"

Jeez, all sorts of things happening in the Xbox front huh...

Wait if you think about it the other way around. He might have helped the X1 drop the DRM and online stuff. How many people got even madder after he opened his mouth? The real anger started RIGHT when he started talking.

WHAT

@the_laughing_man: Steve ballmer might have something to say about that...

Kinda of weird choice, I heard rumors that Microsoft was looking to clean house after the Xbox team fucked up the messaging of what the Xbone drm stuff was for. Maybe that would explain him jumping ship early to avoid being fired, but Zynga? Really?

According to the source:

The move appears to be largely unrelated to the massive restructuring being mulled by CEO Steve Ballmer at Microsoft. Talks between Mattrick and Zynga have been going on for some time, said sources.

This news is just too perfect.

The stars are aligning for J Allard's triumphant return!