Andre Vrignaud

A Microsoft games veteran is making the leap to Amazon.com, sparking speculation about a new Amazon games initiative. Andre Vrignaud, Microsoft Director of Game Platform Strategy, announced on his personal blog that he is leaving Microsoft to take a unnamed position at Amazon.

"Can’t really talk about details at this point, but it’ll become pretty evident soon enough… and you all know where my passions lie," Vrignaud wrote.

Vrignaud is the latest in a string of Microsoft employees to defect to Amazon, part of an evolving rivalry between the two local tech giants.

Here's more from Vrignaud's blog:

I make this announcement with mixed emotions as I’m excited about where Microsoft is going in the next few years as they look to reinvent digital entertainment… but I’m also obviously very intrigued about what Amazon is looking to do. And add to that some of the smaller “intangible” benefits (such as a much shorter commute, dogs allowed at work, working in Seattle proper, etc.) it felt like the right time.

Vrignaud joined Microsoft in 2002 and was initially Director of Xbox Live Platform Strategy, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before Microsoft, he held positions at Intel, Total Entertainment Network, and Strategic Simulations.

Gamasutra notes that Vrignaud's move to Amazon comes as the online retailer is reportedly working on an expanded digital games store. Amazon currently has a web page, still in beta, for downloading PC games.

Given Vrignaud's background with Xbox Live, it's interesting to note that Amazon discontinued Xbox Live Arcade games sales a few weeks ago, though it's not clear if there's any connection between the two events.

Amazon earlier this year announced plans for a Kindle app store, including things like games, though current Kindle models are limited by their greyscale displays and lack of color, touchscreen and animation. Amazon, however, is reportedly looking at other types of hardware beyond Kinde.

Vrignaud joins a growing list of Microsoft employees who have crossed over to Amazon in recent years. The list includes computer security expert George Stathakopoulos; longtime Windows vice president Mike Nash; data center guru James Hamilton; and another computer security expert, Steve Riley. Veteran Microsoft executive Brian Valentine joined Amazon in 2006 and is now senior VP of Amazon’s e-commerce platform.

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