Former EA exec to advise Microsoft

Microsoft has signed up Don Mattrick to take on an advisory role, working for the company's entertainment and devices division.

Mattrick was previously worldwide president of studios at Electronic Arts. Before leaving in 2005 he oversaw franchises such as Need for Speed, The Sims and SSZ.

He will not be a full-time employee of Microsoft and he will continue to work out of Vancouver rather than at the company's Redmond offices.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, which broke the news of Mattrick's appointment, Xbox boss Peter Moore said that Mattrick will "assist Microsoft on a broad array of tasks including helping its own game studios".