Activision Blizzard CEO Rips Ex-EA Chief as 'Worst in Gaming'

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 Grit podcast appearance. While acknowledging EA's superior business stability compared to Activision's, Kotick stated he'd have paid to keep Riccitiello in the CEO role indefinitely. This wasn't personal, Kotick clarified, but stemmed from a fear that Bing Gordon, EA's former chief creative officer, might succeed Riccitiello.

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed disappointing financial performance and significant layoffs. His tenure, which began in 2007, included controversial proposals, such as charging players for gun reloads in Battlefield. He later led Unity Technologies, leaving in 2023 amidst a backlash over installation fees. His time at Unity also saw him apologize for his disparaging remarks about developers who opposed microtransactions.

Interestingly, Kotick revealed EA's multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He admitted EA's business model was, in many ways, stronger than Activision's.

Kotick's own leadership at Activision Blizzard, while financially successful, was also marked by controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of serious misconduct claims emerged. While Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews found these claims unsubstantiated, a $54 million settlement was reached with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023. The settlement stated that no court or independent investigation substantiated allegations of systemic sexual harassment or improper board actions regarding workplace misconduct.

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