In a recent podcast appearance on Grit, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick didn't mince words about ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello, branding him "the worst CEO in video games." Joined by former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, Kotick's critique came amidst a discussion that also touched on the competitive dynamics between the two gaming giants. While Kotick acknowledged that EA's business model was, in many respects, superior and more stable than Activision Blizzard's, he humorously remarked that they "would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever," underscoring his strong disapproval of Riccitiello's leadership.
Riccitiello, who led EA from 2007 until his departure in 2013 following disappointing financial results and significant layoffs, had once proposed the controversial idea of charging players a dollar each time they reloaded their guns in the Battlefield series. After leaving EA, Riccitiello took the helm at Unity Technologies in 2014. His tenure there, which ended in 2023, was not without its own controversies, notably around the introduction and subsequent retraction of install fees for developers. Riccitiello's outspoken stance on microtransactions, where he famously labeled developers who shunned them as the "biggest f*cking idiots," further stirred the pot within the gaming community.
Kotick, who steered Activision Blizzard through its historic $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, revealed during the podcast that EA had made several attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. Despite recognizing EA's strengths, Kotick's tenure at Activision Blizzard was not without its own share of controversy. The company faced numerous allegations of sexism and a toxic work culture, culminating in a walkout by employees over reports that Kotick failed to inform the board about allegations of serious misconduct, including rape. Activision Blizzard's response to these allegations was scrutinized, leading to a lawsuit from California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing in July 2021 over a "frat boy" culture. A subsequent $54 million settlement in December 2023 with the California Civil Rights Department concluded that no systemic sexual harassment was substantiated, and the board, including Kotick, had not acted improperly.
In the same interview, Kotick also shared his candid opinion on Universal's 2016 adaptation of Activision Blizzard's Warcraft, describing it as "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." This blunt assessment adds another layer to Kotick's legacy, which is marked by both significant financial achievements and contentious workplace issues.
