Bobby Kotick remains CEO and reports to Phil Spencer

Jan 18, 2022 15:03 GMT  ·  By

In a surprising announcement Microsoft revealed that it has acquired troubled publisher and developer Activision Blizzard for the huge sum of $70 billion. The amount might seem negligible considering the franchises Microsoft will add to its portfolio alongside the US publisher/developer, but it’s still quite impressive.

What’s even more surprising, however, is the fact that Microsoft plans to keep current the Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in the same position. Even though he will now report to Phis Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming, the decision to maintain in such a high position a person that protected and groomed a toxic culture within Activision Blizzard is baffling.

Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth. Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming.

According to Phil Spencer, until the transaction closes, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft Gaming will continue to operate independently. Once the deal is complete, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer as CEO, Microsoft Gaming.

More importantly, Microsoft announced that upon close, they will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as they can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from the developer’s impressive lineup of franchises.

Once the deal is closed, Microsoft will not only acquire Activision Blizzard, but also all the studios owned by the publisher including Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Major League Gaming, Radical Entertainment, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch.

A webcast for investors and media will be hosted later today by Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming, and Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood.