In the past week, the count of high-profile Microsoft veterans who are either leaving the Redmond software coop (or being pushed involuntarily) has been mounting.

The latest addition to the departure list is Ted Hase, one of the four original Xbox team members and co-creator of the Microsoft Media Center PC concept.

Hase's last day at Microsoft was June 16, Hase told Microsoft Watch.

The San Jose Mercury News reported news of Hase's departure last week.

Hase declined to say what he plans to do next or exactly why he decided to quit. He shared some additional thoughts via a canned Q&A document with which he provided Microsoft Watch:

"After 16 exciting, interesting years in one place challenging conventional thinking, introducing fresh approaches, creating new businesses opportunities, and managing, leading and being influenced by some of the brightest minds in the industry I've decided that it's time for a change," Hase said.

"It's only recently become known that I was leaving Microsoft and I'm amazed and a little awed at all of the opportunity that's coming my way," Hase said. "All I ever wanted to do at Microsoft was to make a difference – and in some small way, I feel very honored to have helped command some extraordinary and revolutionary internal activities.

" Two business units: the Xbox and the Windows Media Center PC exist because of our initiative and sacrifice. This has, in turn, resulted in thousands of jobs and vibrant external partner ecosystems in support of both platforms. It has also resulted in a global movement that forced other companies to radically change their business strategies to support the notion of centralized media consumption. All in all – I'd say we did ok," Hase said.

What could have kept Hase from resigning from Microsoft?

"In a company Microsoft's size there are certainly some activities that I find interesting that center around entertainment and content but I have already held strategic roles in those areas at Microsoft and a move back into those roles would be much too comfortable and easy. I like to move forward and to force personal and professional growth. This is a time to challenge myself and advance and not a time to settle back into old, comfortable habits," he said.

Hase is hardly the only visible executive to announce recently intentions to leave Microsoft.

On June 10, high-profile Microsoft Vista evangelist Robert Scoble acknowledged he had decided to leave Microsoft for startup PodTech.Net.

On June 15, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates announced plans to step out of his daily Microsoft duties, as of 2008. Gates passed the Chief Software Architect torch to Ray Ozzie, the creator of Lotus Notes and Groove collaboration software, effective immediately.

On June 20, Microsoft officials confirmed that Windows Live marketing chief Martin Taylor was no longer on the Microsoft payroll. Microsoft would not comment on why Taylor and his 13-year employer had parted ways so abruptly.