Activision Blizzard King is lastly owned by Microsoft, and the acquisition that has spanned greater than a 12 months is lastly over. With that, loads of questions come up, chief amongst them being: what occurs to Activision Blizzard King CEO Bobby Kotick?
Kotick has been with Activision for years, and seen it by way of its most profitable intervals and a number of cultural tentpoles within the business. He’s additionally been the one in cost whereas a poisonous work tradition festered to the purpose the place workers couldn’t take it any extra.
Now that the acquisition is completed, Kotick will stay as Activision Blizzard King’s chief government officer – but only until the end of 2023. Come 2024, another person will take the helm.
“I’ve lengthy mentioned that I’m totally dedicated to serving to with the transition. Phil [Spencer] has requested me to remain on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we’ve got agreed that I’ll try this by way of the top of 2023.” mentioned Kotick in a letter to ABK workers.
“We each look ahead to working collectively on a easy integration for our groups and gamers.”
It’s value noting that this was already what was mentioned will occur, because it was already confirmed Kotick would leave if the deal went through, and stay if it didn’t.
Kotick’s departure is something that ABK developers have been asking for, and it’ll positively be thought to be one of many key elements in how this deal continues to alter the video games business.
Who takes up Kotick’s spot subsequent in fact is the large query, and can they, together with Microsoft, be as much as the duty of fixing the three-decades of points Kotick allowed to pile up.
For what it’s value, Microsoft has already spoken at length about its dedication to creating an excellent work tradition throughout the studios it homes and dealing with unions workers might select to be members of.
Vice chair and president Brad Smith even re-affirmed that dedication in a weblog put up with the acquisition’s approval.
“As Microsoft has closed its transaction to accumulate Activision Blizzard, we affirm out dedication to our labor rules and modern method to union partnerships.
Microsoft stays steadfast in our assist of our present and future workers in no matter alternative they make about their office and their representatives.
We look ahead to assembly, listening to, and studying from our new Activision Blizzard workers and persevering with our collaborative engagement with CWA (Communications Employees Of America) and the employees it represents.”
Supply – [Activision Blizzard, Microsoft]
