When Microsoft first got into the gaming business with the original Xbox, J Allard was the one overseeing development and pitching the machine to the press. When it came time for the launch of the Xbox 360, he was once again championing the system, but this time as a corporate vice president. Today, his position is chief experience officer and chief technology officer of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, but according to a report on GameSpot sister-site ZDNet, that might change soon.

　　Allard, sporting fake dreads on a lost bet. According to ZDNet's sources, Allard is on a sabbatical from which he may not return. The Microsoft executive had been working on the Courier dual-screen tablet device until its cancellation, originally reported late last month. ZDNet's sources were not in agreement on exactly what happened, with one camp saying that Allard was upset about his project being scuttled and followed through on threats to leave the company. Another source told the site that Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer booted Allard over the Courier project.

　　Once a prominent public figure in Microsoft's gaming efforts, Allard has been in the public eye infrequently since his early 2006 assignment to what was then Microsoft's experiences and design for gaming and entertainment group. He was most visible in recent years helping to promote a revamped line of the Zune media players.

　　Microsoft told ZDNet last week that it would not comment on rumor and speculation regarding Allard's employment and repeated the statement to GameSpot today.