EA's Peter Moore bids farewell to gaming industry as he leaves to head Liverpool FC

EA's Peter Moore has bid farewell to the video game industry with a heartfelt video and letter on his last day in the sector as he leaves to become the CEO at Liverpool FC. In a farewell message posted on Twitter on Friday (14 April), Moore said he was leaving behind "thousands of great memories that comprise the career journey of a lifetime."

In February, Liverpool announced the appointment of Moore, EA's chief competition officer and lifelong fan of the team, replacing Ian Ayre as its new chief executive officer. Moore previously served as EA's chief operating officer, president of EA Sports, vice president of Microsoft's Xbox division and president of Sega of America during the launch of the Dreamcast console.

"Game Over. Press Start... " the 61-year-old Liverpool native wrote in a letter posted to his protected Twitter account announcing his last day in the industry. "These are the words that I have dreaded writing for weeks now, following the announcement of my appointment as CEO of Liverpool FC.

"From the advent of online gaming (albeit via a 56K modem) to the 'console wars' and now to games as 365-days-a-year, live experiences, I have been fortunate to have borne witness to the amazing growth of this, our wonderful gaming industry."

Moore praised his colleagues at Sega, Microsoft and EA saying he was honoured to have worked with "some of the smartest, creative and innovative minds on this planet."

"If you work in the industry, I am in awe of what you do in bringing games to life in ways we could have only dreamed of a few short years ago," he wrote. "If you are a gamer, take a deep breath and a moment of reflection occasionally and admire the incredible creativity of the medium you love. And if a game disappoints, provide constructive feedback, not the vitriol that is unfortunately so prevalent nowadays.

"As for me, I am crystal clear in understanding that I was merely the front man for your brilliant achievements, the 'suit' that sometimes did goofy, cheesy stunts and speeches to draw your attention to your phenomenally creative talent."

Moore said his moving on to his position as CEO of Liverpool is "more of a calling" than a change in jobs.

"With one more crank of the self-reinvention wheel, I am taking on a new and unique challenge, one that's roots are embedded in my heart," he wrote.

He also put together a video posted on YouTube featuring photos during his time as a unique personality and executive in the gaming industry, including pictures of him announcing the launch date of Halo 2 with a permanent tattoo on his right bicep and a temporary one for Grand Theft Auto 4.

Moore said the video "captures just a small sample of the immense fun that I have had working in games over the past 18 years."
"I hope some of these memories bring a smile to your face and further validation of how lucky we all are to be a part of this unique and vibrant medium," he wrote, signing off with "You'll never walk alone."

Moore will take on his new role with Liverpool in June and report directly to the club's owners Fenway Sports Group.