Report: Phil Harrison leaving Microsoft (correction)

Multiple sources have confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that Phil Harrison will soon leave Microsoft. So far, Microsoft has declined to confirm his departure.

Xbox's Phil Spencer has declined comment, telling Eurogamer at the Game Developers Conference today, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can say anything about that."

When approached by Eurogamer Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox, also refused comment.

Harrison has been a corporate vice president at Microsoft since 2012. Prior to that he was president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. He also served on the advisory board of the game streaming service Gaikai.

In January of 2013 Harrison was on hand to announce the launch of Lift London, a new London-based game studio that was formed with the goal of creating new IP for tablets, mobile platforms and TVs.

Just today, GamesIndustry.biz reports that Lift London will be closed, and its remaining staff will be folded into Microsoft's Soho Productions team, best known for Kinect Sesame Street TV. We don't know if Harrison's reported departure is related to the closure of Lift.

Correction: The quote in this story was incorrectly attributed to Phil Harrison. It has been corrected to reflect the words of Phil Spencer.