Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick launched a scathing attack on his EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a recent podcast appearance. Speaking on the Grit podcast alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, Kotick conceded EA's superior business model compared to Activision's, yet paradoxically stated he'd have gladly paid to keep Riccitiello from the helm.
Kotick's comments, made alongside Gordon (who hinted Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure), revealed a deep-seated fear within Activision that Gordon might lead EA. This fear, Kotick emphasized, underscored their preference for Riccitiello's continued leadership, despite his perceived shortcomings.
Former EA CEO John Riccitiello. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images.Riccitiello's 2013 departure from EA followed a period of financial struggles and significant layoffs. His tenure, spanning from 2007, was punctuated by controversial proposals, including a suggestion to shareholders that Battlefield players pay per reload. His subsequent role as CEO of Unity Technologies (2014-2023) also faced controversy, culminating in his resignation amidst a backlash over proposed installation fees. His leadership at Unity was further marked by an apology to developers for his disparaging remarks about those opposed to microtransactions.
Interestingly, Kotick, whose leadership at Activision Blizzard concluded with the company's $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, acknowledged EA's multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He even conceded EA's business model was, in many respects, stronger and more stable than Activision's.
Ex-Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.While Kotick's tenure at Activision Blizzard ended with significant financial success, it was also marred by controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of serious misconduct claims led to employee walkouts and a lawsuit from California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (now the Civil Rights Department). A subsequent $54 million settlement in December 2023 concluded with a statement that no court or independent investigation substantiated claims of systemic sexual harassment or improper board handling of misconduct.
In the same interview, Kotick also offered his critical assessment of Universal's 2016 Warcraft adaptation, deeming it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."
