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Valve veteran will be focused on "making Windows a great platform for gaming"
Jason Holtman, who spearheaded Valve's Steam business for eight years before leaving the company in February, has a new job.
"Yes, I have joined Microsoft where I will be focusing on making Windows a great platform for gaming and interactive entertainment," he said. "I think there is a lot of opportunity for Microsoft to deliver the games and entertainment customers want and to work with developers to make that happen, so I'm excited to be here."
At Valve, Holtman was the primary point of contact for developers that distributed games on Steam - and, to many in the gaming world, was the service's driving force. While he certainly wasn't the sole reason for its success, he was its biggest cheerleader and an even bigger proponent of digital distribution.
He's also credited with steering Steam through the DRM controversies it encountered and calming publisher fears that the annual Steam Summer and holiday sales would devalue their intellectual properties.
more at linkIt's not just his relationship with publishers and developers that's valuable, though. Holtman also knows how to connect with customers - something Microsoft has been lacking so far in its digital distribution efforts.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-08-14-former-steam-boss-lands-at-microsoft