Microsoft Lays Off Games for Windows Live General Manager - UPDATED

Chris Early, the general manager of Games for Windows Live, has been caught up in the sweeping layoffs at Microsoft, possibly indicating a shift in the company's attitude toward the service.

Microsoft recently confirmed that it will be cutting 5000 jobs, with the first round of 1400 jobs expected to focus on the company's Entertainment and Devices division, and that Early would be among the casualties. VentureBeat attempted to contact Early for comment but only received an automated response saying that his time at the company "has come to a close."

Games for Windows Live debuted in mid-2007 and was intended to help boost the PC gaming industry by providing a service similar to, and compatible with, Xbox Live. But the system has been very slow to develop - a client to access Games for Windows Live while not playing a game still isn't available - while Steam, Valve's competing service, has grown rapidly and become a hugely popular platform.

It's too early to predict what this signals for Microsoft's commitment to Games for Windows Live, if anything at all. It could be a sign that the company is stepping back from an operation that continues to flounder despite its best efforts, or it may simply be a necessary trimming of fat. With a bit of luck, Microsoft will make its intentions known in the very near future.

UPDATE: Microsoft has issued a statement addressing the layoff of Chris Early and the future of the Games for Windows Live platform. "Moving ahead, Microsoft will continue to invest in Windows as a first-class gaming platform through great Windows out of box experiences, our online gaming services including Games for Windows - LIVE, MSN Games, and Messenger games, and through new games for Windows developed by Microsoft Games Studios," the company said.

"Our Windows gaming service efforts will be led by General Manager Ron Pessner, who is joining Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business," the statement continued. "He comes from within Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division. Working closely with Ron will be Dave Luehmann, a long time Microsoft games veteran and General Manager within Microsoft Games Studios, who will now be overseeing internal development and publishing for all Windows-based games."

Microsoft declined to comment on the reasons for Early's layoff "at this time."

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I think the biggest problem with GFW Live is that it's so goddamned confusing. The way it's distinct from, yet tightly integrated with, Xbox Live drives me absolutely nuts. It's also pretty much useless for anything beyond giving Gamercards to those of us who don't have Xboxes; I can add friends but can't actually talk to them unless I pay to upgrade my account to Gold level. There's not a hell of a lot else I can do, either.

Unless I'm doing it wrong, which I still think is a possibility. And that itself is kind of an indictment of the platform: I'm not as troubled by the fact that I can't do much on GFW Live as I am by the fact that I can't say for 100% that I just haven't been able to figure it out yet.