Mike Ybarra, a longtime employee for Microsoft and current Corporate VP for Team Xbox, is stepping down from his role.
"After 20 years at Microsoft, it’s time for my next adventure". said Ybarra on his twitter account. "It’s been a great ride at Xbox and the future is bright. Thanks to everyone at TeamXbox, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished and I wish you the best."
Ybarra started his career in tech in 1997, working at software development engineer for Hewlett-Packard. Since June of 2000, Ybarra has been an employee at Microsoft, starting out as a systems engineer for Microsoft Windows. He would later be promoted as the senior director of the OEM division, before moving on to the General Manager of Windows 7 in June 2006, and then the General Manager of Xbox Live in 2009.
Ybarra would stay on with Team Xbox for the next ten years, working as a Partner Studio Manager for the Xbox Studios. He was responsible for the shipping of several major titles published only by Microsoft, including Gears of War 3, Gears of War Judgement, Age of Empires Online and Sunset Overdrive. His most recent credits include the Studio Manager for Xbox One titles ReCore and Quantum Break.
Ybarra would later be promoted to the role of Corporate Vice President of Program Management, and later Xbox Live and Xbox Live Game Pass, which he has served since 2017. As the Corporate VP, Ybarra also had his hands in creating the Xbox Game Pass, along with being instrumental for his leadership role on Mixer.
Head of Team Xbox, Phil Spencer, expressed his appreciation for Ybarra in his own tweet.
"Thank you [Ybarra] for your many contributions to Microsoft and Xbox," stated Spencer. "You've been a strong advocate for our fans from day one, and have consistently driven to keep gamers at the center of everything we do. All of us at Team Xbox wish you the best."
This is only the most recent shake-up of major players in the console market. Recently, Sony had Shawn Layden leave the PlayStation team as well.
What are your thoughts on Ybarra's departure from Microsoft? Leave your comments below.
