On Friday, CEO Bobby Kotick’s 33-year tenure at Activision officially ended. Kotick’s much-anticipated retirement followed a formal announcement from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer earlier this month.
The big picture: It’s been a rough ride for Activision Blizzard over the last few years. Fans and employees have endured everything from death threats against workers to legal actions related to reported workplace misconduct. Microsoft’s recent acquisition is a potential turning point in restoring the company’s tarnished reputation.
On Friday, CEO Bobby Kotick’s 33-year tenure at Activision officially ended. Kotick’s much-anticipated retirement followed a formal announcement from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer earlier this month.
Shortly after his departure, social media sparked to life with stories of Kotick’s interference in the development cycles of popular Activision Blizzard titles. The claims align with previous criticisms of Modern Warfare III’s shortened development time and use of recycled « nostalgic » content in place of typical development cycles.
