Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has publicly criticized ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello, labeling him as "the worst CEO in video games." This candid remark was made during Kotick's appearance on the podcast Grit, where he was joined by former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon. Gordon hinted that Riccitiello's leadership style may have contributed to his exit from EA. Despite this, Kotick acknowledged that EA's business model was in many ways superior to Activision's, humorously adding that they "would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever" to keep him away from EA's helm.
Kotick's comments came with a nod to Bing Gordon's potential to lead EA, expressing relief that it did not happen. He emphasized the competitive nature of the industry, mentioning multiple unsuccessful merger discussions between EA and Activision, and praising EA's more stable business structure.
John Riccitiello stepped down as EA's CEO in 2013 amid financial struggles and layoffs. His tenure, which began in 2007, included controversial proposals like charging Battlefield players a dollar per reload. Following EA, Riccitiello took the helm at Unity Technologies in 2014, but resigned in 2023 following backlash over proposed installation fees. His time at Unity was also marked by contentious statements about microtransactions.
Meanwhile, Kotick, who oversaw Activision Blizzard's monumental $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, reflected on his own controversial tenure. Under his leadership, Activision Blizzard faced numerous allegations of a toxic work culture, including sexism and serious misconduct. Despite these claims, independent reviews found no substantiation for systemic sexual harassment or improper handling by the board, including Kotick. The company settled a lawsuit with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023 for $54 million, with the settlement noting that no evidence of widespread sexual harassment was found.
In the same interview, Kotick didn't hold back on his opinion of the 2016 Universal adaptation of Activision Blizzard's Warcraft, bluntly calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." This statement adds another layer to the complex legacy of Kotick's leadership at Activision Blizzard, marked by both financial success and significant controversy.
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