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Xbox executive to leave Microsoft for Zynga, report says

Microsoft's head of Interactive Entertainment Business, the unit responsible for Xbox, may be Zynga's next CEO, according to AllThingsD.

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Microsoft's Don Mattrick at the unveiling of the new Xbox One video game console at the software giant's Redmond, Wash., campus. James Martin/CNET

Microsoft's head of Interactive Entertainment Business, the unit responsible for the Xbox, is leaving the company to work for struggling social gaming company Zynga, All Things Digital reported Monday.

Unnamed sources told AllThingsD that Don Mattrick will take a job at Zynga, possibly working as CEO under founder and current Chief Executive Mark Pincus. The announcement about Mattrick's new job could come as early as Monday, after the market closes.

Mattrick, who left Electronic Arts in 2007 to join Microsoft, became the head of the Interactive Entertainment Business unit in 2010. He also has overseen PC and mobile gaming, Zune, and Mediaroom, Microsoft's platform for delivering entertainment content.

Mattrick made headlines recently for backtracking an unpopular policy that would have made Xbox One gamers connect their consoles to the Internet once a day to prevent game piracy.

Zynga declined to comment. Microsoft has not responded to a request for comment.