Ed Fries

Otto Berkes, the last of the four Xbox founders at Microsoft, is set to leave the firm after 18 years of service.

The Seattle Times reports that Berkes tendered his resignation yesterday. Along with Ted Hase, Seamus Blackley and Kevin Bachus, who left in 2006, 2002 and 2001 respectively, Berkes was part of the group that first persuaded Microsoft to enter the console market with the suggestion of a "DirectX box", which would eventually become the Xbox, released in 2001.

Organisers of the annual Nordic Game conference have announced the full schedule for the 2011 event, to be held next month in Malmo, Sweden.

Keynote speakers include Prince Of Persia creator Jordan Mechner, Ed Fries, co-founder of the Xbox Project, and Brandon Boyer, chairman of the Independent Games Festival, which runs as part of the annual Game Developers Conference.