Microsoft to aggressively recruit former OnLive employees
updated 04:46 pm EDT, Sat August 25, 2012
Software giant hosts mixer targeting OnLive personnel
In the wake of the dramatic collapse and restructuring of OnLive, Microsoft may be looking to bring some of the game streaming service's former employees under its wing. The company is said to be one among many that are interested in picking up some of OnLive's former personnel, and Microsoft is going so far as to host a mixer targeted at OnLive alumni. The invitation for the mixer makes sure to point out that Microsoft's hiring managers will be on hand and ready mingle with attendees.
The Interactive Entertainment Business & OnLive Mixer will be held on Monday, August 27 at Microsoft's campus in Silicon Valley. Ostensibly, its purpose is to attract workers interested in bringing "the next major online innovations to the entertainment industry," but the fact that OnLive is mentioned specifically in the invitation seems to unveil Microsoft's true motives. Earlier this year, documents leaked showing that the software giant had considered buying OnLive, as the company viewed the game streaming service as a potentially disruptive threat to the console gaming model.
The invitation may provide some solace to OnLive's former employees, who were terminated without prior notice when the company collapsed. It also likely signals that Microsoft is considering a serious move into the cloud gaming sector. The company's Xbox Live remains the industry standard for online gaming, and the addition of former OnLive personnel could give the company a means of countering Sony's recent cloud gaming acquisition for the next generation of console gaming. [via VentureBeat]
