Xbox co-founder Ed Fries is now a strategic advisor at Animoca

Xbox Co-founder Ed Fries is now a strategic advisor at mobile gamer Animoca Brands.

Gaming legend Ed Fries, who created Microsoft Games Studio and co-founded the Xbox project, has been tasked with “enhancing Animoca Brands’ operational base and mobile blockchain development capabilities”, the company said.

After a difficult period, Animoca (ASX:AB1) has become one of the ASX’s best performing small cap tech stocks, with its shares up 464 per cent compared with a year ago.

In the first half of 2018 the company recorded its first profitable half-yearly period ever, making $1.69 million.

Animoca said the appointment of Mr Fries strengthened the gaming company’s advisory team, which includes Wilhelm Taht, a former executive at Rovio, which developed the multi-billion dollar Angry Birds game.

Mr Fries created Microsoft Game Studios in 1996 where, over an eight year period, he grew the team from 50 to over 1200 employees and published more than 100 games.

He also co-founded the Xbox project, which transformed Microsoft into one of the leaders in the video game business.