Activision CEO Labels Ex-EA Head 'Worst CEO' in Gaming

Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, recently slammed his ex-EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a podcast appearance on Grit. While acknowledging EA's superior business stability compared to Activision's, Kotick stated he'd have paid to keep Riccitiello in the CEO role indefinitely. This comment, made alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, who hinted Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure, highlights a surprising level of apprehension towards Riccitiello's potential replacement. Kotick explicitly stated his fear was always that Bing Gordon would succeed Riccitiello.

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed a period of financial struggles and layoffs. His tenure, spanning from 2007, included controversial proposals, such as suggesting Battlefield players pay to reload their weapons. He later served as CEO of Unity Technologies, leaving in 2023 amidst controversy surrounding installation fees. His time at Unity also saw him apologize for his disparaging remarks towards developers who didn't embrace microtransactions.

Interestingly, Kotick revealed EA's multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard, stating that EA's business model was, in many aspects, considered superior to Activision's.

Kotick's own leadership at Activision Blizzard, culminating in Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition in 2023, was marked by both financial success and significant controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of 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 concluded with a statement that no court or independent investigation substantiated claims of widespread sexual harassment or improper board actions regarding workplace misconduct.

In the same interview, Kotick also criticized the 2016 Warcraft film adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."