Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard Inc., talks about the company’s future in a new era with Microsoft.
Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, sat down with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin to talk about the company’s future under Microsoft ownership. Expectations for BattleNet are high since it will provide a more robust gaming experience and open up new opportunities for growth in esports.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick talked about the company’s future under Microsoft. Kotick spoke in a fireside chat at Blizzcon 2017 and said that he believes that Microsoft will help Activision grow.
Today, CEO Bobby Kotick of Activision Blizzard conducted a video chat with workers, addressing questions read by Chief People Officer Julie Hodges. According to The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States, Kotick’s Fireside Chat focused on the company’s future after Microsoft’s $68.7 billion purchase, with issues ranging from anticipated layoffs to his own unclear future position.
Since the agreement was revealed, multiple further interviews, SEC filings, and remarks from both Activision and Microsoft officials have been added, as well as related publications to give additional context as needed.
Microsoft Is Trying to Keep Its Employees
First and foremost, Kotick sought to allay worries of layoffs or downsizing, however The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States claimed that bringing the topic up may have had the opposite impact on some. Activision Blizzard similarly declared in a rather vague SEC information filing on the potential sale that there were no intentions to lay off current staff, but the remark mostly concerned the time leading up to the official purchase rather than what may happen thereafter. However, Microsoft already bought Zenimax Media (Bethesda Softworks, ID Software, Arkane Firms, and MachineGames) in 2021, with no rumors of significant reduction inside those studios.
The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States
“The transition is going to be easy,” Kotick said during a video chat on Thursday. “We’re dedicated to trying to keep as many of our individuals as possible.”
Following the video call, several Activision Blizzard employees told The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States the comment made them suspicious of upcoming layoffs.
Will there be job cuts as a consequence of this deal?
- Microsoft has made it plain that they want to keep and increase the value that Activision Blizzard brings to the table, which includes the outstanding Activision Blizzard crew.
- We believe that Microsoft’s varied operations will give Activision Blizzard workers with important possibilities, as well as access to more world-class developer talent who will collaborate with you, our current, outstanding talent.
The Forgotten Games of Activision
Other issues discussed were the idea of generating new editions in long-forgotten gaming brands and the Activision Blizzard staff not needing to transition to Microsoft Teams. Spencer repeated similar sentiments in a separate interview, gushing about the potential of Activision Blizzard’s vast intellectual property collection.
The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States
According to Kotick, Microsoft made the transaction because it liked Activision Blizzard and wanted to invest in the metaverse. He considered the possibility of the corporation assisting in the creation of another “Guitar Hero.”
“I was looking at the IP list, I mean, let’s get this party started!” Spencer remarked. “‘Guitar Hero,’ ‘King’s Quest.’… I should know, but I believe they have ‘HeXen.’”
According to Spencer, the Xbox team will speak with developers about collaborating on a number of Activision Blizzard brands.
“When the acquisition happens, we’re hoping to be able to work with them to make sure we have resources to work on brands that I’ve loved since I was a kid and that the teams truly want to obtain,” Spencer said. “I’m excited to have these discussions. I believe it is a matter of expanding competence and adding resources.”
Similar to how Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Studios brought the Avengers under the same banner as the X-Men and Fantastic Four for the first time since the late 1990s, opening the door for more potential crossovers, fans have expressed interest in the potential that Activision Blizzard operating under Microsoft might bring.
Kotick is clinging to his position, despite the fact that the future is uncertain.
In terms of his own future position, the CEO said that he intended to continue on after the company’s move to Microsoft. This has been the burning topic on everyone’s mind, with no solid response yet – every time the subject has been addressed, it has been verified that Kotick would stay CEO throughout the transition, but that “the company” will report to Phil Spencer after the official purchase. People familiar with the preparations told the Wall Street Journal that both businesses agreed Kotick would leave once the transaction closed, but there has been no official confirmation, as with many things about Activision Blizzard.
In an interview with Gamesbeat, Kotick stated “after close I will be accessible as required,” according to New York Times journalist Karen Weise. According to Kotick, reporting to Phil is simple since the two have a long and pleasant connection. These ambiguous words give the impression that Kotick is fighting for a position as an adviser, however the lack of confidence is also revealing, as it comes off as a grab for anything that would keep him connected in the corporation he created from the bottom up.
The Washington Post is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States is a newspaper based in the United States
Hodges questioned Kotick whether he planned to remain on as CEO if the acquisition was completed. According to Kotick, the purchase would take a long time to complete.
“This is a corporation where I’ve worked for 31 years, and there is nothing more important to me than this company, except from my children,” Kotick added. “I can assure you that my devotion to the firm will continue in my current position.” After the transaction complete, I’ve promised Microsoft that I’ll remain as long as it takes to facilitate a smooth merger and transition.”
With trust in the CEO at an all time low, employees are naturally skeptical of Kotick’s statements, although they largely mirror those made by Microsoft’s newly appointed CEO of Gaming Phil Spencer, who has repeatedly expressed confidence in their plan to help navigate Activision Blizzard through their ongoing cultural and legal issues. Likewise, Spencer has been adamant that Activision Blizzard will continue to honor existing contracts and agreements regarding their games and services on other platforms, though many still wonder if at least some of their games won’t become Xbox & PC exclusive once those existing contracts expire. In response to these concerns, Spencer has publicly stated that “our goal is to allow the content to reach as many players as possible,” though only time will tell.
Related Tags
- blizzard activision
- how much is activision worth
