Activision Blizzard CEO Bashes Ex-EA Chief

Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, recently slammed his ex-EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a podcast appearance on Grit. This candid assessment came alongside former EA chief creative officer, Bing Gordon, who hinted Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure.

Kotick acknowledged EA's superior business model compared to Activision's, stating, "We actually thought their business, in a lot of ways, was better than ours. More stable." Despite this, he declared, "We would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever. We thought he was the worst CEO in video games." This statement, he clarified, wasn't influenced by Gordon's presence. Kotick expressed concern that Gordon might one day lead EA.

Riccitiello's 2007-2013 tenure at EA ended amidst financial setbacks and layoffs. His controversial suggestions, such as charging players for gun reloads in Battlefield, further fueled criticism. He later led Unity Technologies, departing in 2023 following a major controversy surrounding installation fees. His time at Unity also included an apology to developers for his derogatory comments about those opposed to microtransactions.

Interestingly, Kotick, whose leadership at Activision Blizzard culminated in its $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, revealed EA's multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard.

While Kotick's Activision Blizzard tenure concluded with significant financial success, it was also marked by substantial controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of serious misconduct claims surfaced. Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews found these allegations unsubstantiated. A $54 million settlement with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023 further clarified that "no court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that: there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard," or that the board acted improperly.

The interview also saw Kotick's critical assessment of Universal's 2016 Warcraft film adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."