Microsoft director who fueled 'always-on' debate has left company

The Microsoft director who fueled the "always-on" debate for the next Xbox via Twitter has reportedly left the company, although it is not clear if he resigned or was forced to leave.

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The Microsoft director who fueled the "always-on" debate for the next Xbox via Twitter has reportedly left the company, although it is not clear if he resigned or was forced to leave.

Sources told Game Informer that Adam Orth, creative director for Microsoft's video game division, was no longer employed there. Subsequent calls to the Redmond-based company's main switchboard confirmed the story. A Microsoft spokesperson told Polygon "We don't comment on private personnel matters."

Orth stated on Twitter that he didn't understand the always-on "drama" and that he wanted "every device to be 'always on.'" His comments sparked a back-and-forth with BioWare's Manveer Heir that raised the ire of gamers toward Microsoft. Heir and Orth later passed the exchange off as friends just "busting balls," although Microsoft later felt compelled to apologize for Orth's "inappropriate comments."

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  • reply
    April 11, 2013 6:30 AM

    John Keefer posted a new article, Microsoft director who fueled 'always-on' debate has left company.

    The Microsoft director who fueled the "always-on" debate for the next Xbox via Twitter has reportedly left the company, although it is not clear if he resigned or was forced to leave.

    • reply
      April 11, 2013 7:06 AM

      Lol
      /5char

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      April 11, 2013 7:10 AM

      Not a big loss I reckon.

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        April 11, 2013 8:45 AM

        Because you know what his job was and his contributions?

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          April 11, 2013 10:35 AM

          Because he doesn't care who the guy was.

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          April 13, 2013 4:09 AM

          Because the guy was a moron and I'm pretty sure Microsoft wouldn't have fired him over some stupid Twitter messages, if his contributions were so important, given he WAS fired, which I firmly assume.

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      April 11, 2013 7:31 AM

      Well that was swift...

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      April 11, 2013 7:32 AM

      He signed a NDA of course and was fired. What an idiot opening his mouth like that, he should know better then that....

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        April 11, 2013 8:45 AM

        He resigned

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          April 11, 2013 12:29 PM

          of course he did. within days of getting all that negative attention. what a coincidence. cmon. you know how these things go.

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        April 11, 2013 8:46 AM

        He didn't break any NDA and didn't get fired.

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        April 11, 2013 10:33 AM

        He probably didn't know much about XBox "720" decisions and had no NDA signed. He was probably just a random guy. But in identifying himself as a MS employee on twitter and being pretty vocal about his preferences he brought a lot of shit unto himself and MS so this is not at all surprising.

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      April 11, 2013 8:09 AM

      #dealwithit indeed..

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      April 11, 2013 8:40 AM

      Microsft: you're going to have to leave the company.
      Adam Orth: why? this is bs it was just my own opinion
      Microsft: Sorry this is final... just deal with it

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      April 11, 2013 8:40 AM

      In a way I'm glad he made those comments because it caused other people to come out and make comments that made me realize just how stupid some other certain game industry people are.

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      April 11, 2013 8:52 AM

      i have no sympathy for this dolt.

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      April 11, 2013 10:17 AM

      hollerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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      April 11, 2013 10:28 AM

      good ol' internet era. it's a DDoS of sperglords demanding action, all behind handles, while people in the real world use their real names... and lose their jobs.

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      April 11, 2013 11:18 AM

      What did i miss here.

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      April 11, 2013 11:22 AM

      And yet none of this will stop the 720 from being online-only. MS just wants to control how they spin it to consumers, rather than have this asshat piss people off.

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        April 12, 2013 10:56 AM

        Lack of ubiquitous broadband will not stop 720 from being online-only? Really?

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      April 12, 2013 9:14 AM

      This whole thing seems silly.

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      April 13, 2013 3:18 AM

      I don't see the problem with the always on thing.
      If it means no disc in the drawer when I play games then I am happy.
      Could it be that this discussion has brought forward the announcement of the new console?
      Australians won't be annoyed at always on within a few years as the whole country is getting new internets.
      90% of the population will have Fibre and 6% more will get fixed wireless or satellite.

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