Activision Blizzard King is lastly owned by Microsoft, and the acquisition that has spanned greater than a yr 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 means of its most profitable durations and a number of cultural tentpoles within the trade. He’s additionally been the one in cost whereas a poisonous work tradition festered to the purpose the place staff couldn’t take it any extra.
Now that the acquisition is completed, Kotick will stay as Activision Blizzard King’s chief govt officer – however solely till the top of 2023. Come 2024, another person will take the helm.
“I’ve lengthy stated that I’m absolutely dedicated to serving to with the transition. Phil [Spencer] has requested me to remain on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have now agreed that I’ll do this by means of the top of 2023.” stated Kotick in a letter to ABK staff.
“We each sit up for working collectively on a easy integration for our groups and gamers.”
It’s value noting that this was already what was stated will occur, because it was already confirmed Kotick would depart if the deal went by means of, and keep if it didn’t.
Kotick’s departure is one thing that ABK builders have been asking for, and it’ll undoubtedly be considered one of many key elements in how this deal continues to alter the video games trade.
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 size about its dedication to creating a very good work tradition throughout the studios it homes and dealing with unions staff could select to be members of.
Vice chair and president Brad Smith even re-affirmed that dedication in a weblog publish with the acquisition’s approval.
“As Microsoft has closed its transaction to accumulate Activision Blizzard, we affirm out dedication to our labor ideas and progressive strategy to union partnerships.
Microsoft stays steadfast in our help of our present and future staff in no matter alternative they make about their office and their representatives.
We sit up for assembly, listening to, and studying from our new Activision Blizzard staff and persevering with our collaborative engagement with CWA (Communications Employees Of America) and the employees it represents.”
Supply – [Activision Blizzard, Microsoft]