Will he stay, or will he go? That's the question everyone is asking about Bobby Kotick right now after Microsoft announced its plans to purchase Activision Blizzard in a deal worth around $70 billion.
Although The New York Times suggested Kotick would be "available as needed" after the acquisition was finalised, as you might have seen, this may not necessarily be the case. According to an story over on the The Wall Street Journal (paywall), once the deal is done, Kotick will be shown the door.
As previously highlighted, his exit from Activision Blizzard is still expected to result in a substantial payout:
Xbox's original statement also seems to indicate Activision Blizzard's CEO won't be hanging around after the transaction goes through - with the official announcement confirming "once the deal closes" Activision Blizzard will report to Phil Spencer, who is now the CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
Microsoft also admits it has "work to do" and is very much committed to making gaming a safe space that is inclusive and accessible to all. At this early stage of the acquisition though, it seems we'll just have to wait until things are finalised to find out what really happens.
[source wsj.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 13
Well he's got at least another whole year then
There we go, all I needed. As a consumer this whole buyout is only positive, more games on Gamepass and I still use my PS5 for its exclusives. Kotick leaving is just the whole can of cherries on top.
Can't happen soon enough. Much as I dislike the potential monopoly, Acti-Blizz was not recovering on it's own.
Not gonna lie…I was gonna keep playing CoD whether Kotick left or not
Good. F*** off, Kotick.
I am sure if he's does stick around it will be a very small role basically they will be paying him to sit at home. I can't see MS being stupid and giving him any sort of power due to all the controversies with him.
No surprise. He will leave Activision with a multi million dollar severance and likely end up at the helm of some other terrible company making even more $$ than before. It would be nice to watch him in a bad spot but these guys almost always land on their feet.
Too bad it leaving won't be due to the complete adulteration of beloved franchises, including egregious monetization. Gamers have been banging that drum for years. Even recently with their laying down with China, the industry turned a blind eye. But only starting in 2021 did the shill media start to wake up, just because a couple of pregnant women got fired? Absolute madness.
@isturbo1984
You know it wasn't just because of that, and plenty of game journalists have been talking about the problems with Activision and Ubisoft and the industry at large for years. Way to show your misogyny, though.
@Phostachio Yeah, and journos have slowly dialed it back over recent years and stopped criticizing them over certain issues. Misogyny? I said nothing disparaging against women, lol. Get your flamboyant SJW mentally ill insults out of my face, son.
Too bad he's going to get more money when he leaves, already a rich SOB.
@isturbo1984
"Just because a couple of pregnant women got fired" definitely sounds like misogyny to me, considering that's not at all all that happened and you're trivializing the sexual harassment and everything else that went on. Getting called an SJW by a gamerboii neckbeard is about the highest compliment I could receive here.
@Phostachio Son, all I meant was that I was hating on Bobby before it was cool to do so by the neogaymers. In any case, my opinion was not an invitation to be insulted and called names by some johnny come lately that doesn't value consumer rights. Take your political rhetoric somewhere else. Why do I even have to say more than once to stop harassing me?
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