Activision Blizzard deal: CEO Bobby Kotick to leave after takeover, according to report

A report provides new information about the future of the Activision Blizzard CEO.

After being completely overwhelmed by the news that Microsoft is looking to acquire Activision-Blizzard, many questions arise. One that keeps coming up is: What does the deal mean for Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick? This was heavily criticized in the context of the discrimination scandal surrounding the publisher. A new report now says Kotick will have to leave once the deal is finalized.

According to the report, Kotick has to go

It’s all about this: The news that Microsoft wants to take over Activision-Blizzard was preceded by months in which a full-blown sexism scandal surrounding the publisher made headlines. In July 2021, a lawsuit filed by a California civil rights authority exposed information about a toxic work environment, discrimination, harassment, unequal opportunity and unequal pay at the gaming giant.

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CEO in criticism: Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was also accused of misconduct. He is said to have covered and protected perpetrators in the company and threatened victims who reported abuse. As a result, Kotick was met with a wave of resignation calls from shareholders, fans and employees alike. Nevertheless, the CEO remained at the helm and said he would only step down if he couldn’t solve the problems quickly enough.

WWhat about Kotick’s future after the deal? According to the latest developments, it could look different. Microsoft has not yet made any official statements about this, or only very vaguely. A report of Wall Street Journals (which, however, can only be read with a fee) now states that the controversial CEO must leave as soon as the deal is completed. Xbox boss Phil Spencer gives on the official website Known the following:

On a picture below the post, the “Gaming Leadership Team” is shown and there you won’t find Kotick either. Among the 13 executives are 7 women and 6 men, including Phil Spencer.

When will the deal be closed? Both parties assume that this will be the case in mid-2023. Before that, the companies still acted independently. According to gamesindustry.biz Kotick’s current contract expires at the end of March 2023 anyway.

As eurogamer.net notes, it’s likely that when Bobby Kotick leaves, he won’t be leaving without a sizeable severance package – if reports of his resignation prove accurate at all. To be sure, we have to wait for an official statement.