GamesBeat Interview with Bobby Kotick Explains Motives for Selling Activision Blizzard to Microsoft

Posted 2022/01/18 at 7:20 PM by Archimtiros

GamesBeatselling the company to Microsoft

Bobby Kotick, via Gamesbeat

GamesBeat: And was the sexual harassment investigation factor in this, as it certainly seemed to affect the stock price?

Kotick: I think what affected the stock price more than that is pushing out Overwatch and Diablo. And then I think people started to see that this year’s Call of Duty wasn’t performing as well. So I think certainly the filing and the Wall Street Journal article contributed to that, but stocks go up and down for a variety of reasons. I think our view was that at $95 a share with all cash, that’s a really great deal for our shareholders. And so that was an easy and independent judgment. It’s a great deal.discrimination lawsuitthird quarter results conference calldelay of Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 were being delayedWall Street Journal articleAutomaticJak

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Comment by WowvocateOl Bobby will be able to buy a yacht made entirely of cocaine with the golden parachute he's going to receive.Comment by Toxictimbowow it's like nobody asked Bobby. just $%^& off already honestlyComment by Shinxoeall make it easy for you. As mr krabs said once: MONEYComment by WorgenMaster759Yeah, because you've ruined the company Bobby! You're the Captain. Time to go down with the ship!Comment by Agathonthe only question I want the media to ask Kotick forever is why he's such an $%^&*!@ and enable of abusersComment by nantangitanMuch like everyone else, I'm not happy he's going to earn literal mountains of money from this deal. But the amount of money Bobby earns is immaterial to me. I'm just glad that after so many years he'll have his hands off the controls for Blizzard and Activision.

Under his leadership I've watched franchises I love stagnate, and in come cases disappear entirely. Even if nothing comes of it, I have some hope that Microsoft will resurrect my old favourites again, if only because they have an interest in developing games that aren't just Call of Duty. As for the Blizzard side of things, going forward I guess this is where we find out just how much of their decision make process was influenced by Activision and how much was their own, with Activision just taking the blame.

(Going forward into 2023 when the deal actually finalises obviously)Comment by spyropurpleGood riddance, maybe Blizzard can finally get their &*!@ together and actually try to make a decent game for once. Curious to see how things will turn out after this settles.Comment by SearinoxThe answer..... MANEY!Comment by roseyheadYeah, because you've ruined the company Bobby! You're the Captain. Time to go down with the ship!Comment by SparkiekongI haven't played in a few months because of boredom. I don't know how I feel about this change over, but anything is better than doing nothing.

I wish he wasn't getting boat loads of cash for doing this, but it is a typical move for an executive wanting to retire. Do something stupid, find the "answer" to fix it...and then congratulate yourself with the "fix" and then retire. Either way, he'll not be a part of it anymore and someone else who's hopefully more professionally and culturally aware will be able to point this game in a better direction.

The words "Blizzard Games" used to stand for a quality game... Hopefully we'll get back to that.Comment by BahskaMuch like everyone else, I'm not happy he's going to earn literal mountains of money from this deal. But the amount of money Bobby earns is immaterial to me. I'm just glad that after so many years he'll have his hands off the controls for Blizzard and Activision.Comment by KiilalaYeah, because you've ruined the company Bobby! You're the Captain. Time to go down with the ship!Comment by KyraellinaNotice how he doesn't take responsibility for his actions, or any other high-level exec, while Blizzard has come under fire for the last 9 months due to sexual harassment.Comment by Boatermilkgod damnit I should've bought stockComment by mpjunkWhile I would like to see Bobby selling used books on the street corner, I am happy to see Blizzard get out from under his control. Even if that will make him even richer.Comment by DranlordOl Bobby will be able to buy a yacht made entirely of cocaine with the golden parachute he's going to receive.Comment by TamuuraMagei dont believe in karma, but i hope karma catches up to himComment by lovelywazOl Bobby will be able to buy a yacht made entirely of cocaine with the golden parachute he's going to receive.https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1407658278893592579Comment by MadSoritmihcraLmi cant wait for kotick to be gone and 11.0 to roll out only to be the exact same %^&* as it is now yet people will blame spencer because they still dont realize kotick had literally nothing to do with how bad wow has gotten over time

the biggest of copesComment by avatarofshadowi don't care about any of this. i want to know if this means we'll be getting more content, less content, or the same amount of content.

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