Bobby Kotick Slams John Riccitiello as 'Worst Video Game CEO'

Bobby Kotick Criticizes John Riccitiello as "Worst CEO in Video Games"

In a candid discussion on the podcast Grit, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick took a sharp jab at ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello, labeling him as "the worst CEO in video games." This comment came during a conversation with former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, who hinted that Riccitiello's leadership may have accelerated his own exit from EA. Kotick, while acknowledging that EA's business model was in some ways superior to Activision's, humorously stated they "would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever" due to his perceived incompetence.

Riccitiello, who served as CEO of EA from 2007 to 2013, faced significant challenges, including poor financial performance and extensive layoffs. His tenure ended following a controversial suggestion to shareholders that Battlefield players might pay a dollar for each gun reload. After leaving EA, Riccitiello took the helm at Unity Technologies in 2014 but resigned in 2023 amidst a major backlash over proposed install fees. His time at Unity was also marked by other contentious decisions, such as his infamous remark about developers who shunned microtransactions.

Kotick, who led Activision Blizzard until its acquisition by Microsoft in 2023 for $68.7 billion, revealed that EA had made multiple attempts to acquire Activision. He praised EA's business stability and even admitted to engaging in merger discussions with them on several occasions. Despite the financial success under his leadership, Kotick's tenure was not without controversy. Activision Blizzard faced numerous allegations of sexism and a toxic work environment, culminating in employee walkouts and a lawsuit from California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing in 2021, alleging a "frat boy" culture. The legal battle concluded with a $54 million settlement in December 2023, with the state finding no evidence of systemic sexual harassment or improper conduct by the board, including Kotick.

In the same interview, Kotick also criticized Universal's 2016 film adaptation of Activision Blizzard's Warcraft, describing it as "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."