All articles tagged with #microsoft acquisition
Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, will leave the company on January 1, 2024, following Microsoft's acquisition. Kotick had considered stepping down in 2021 amidst allegations of a toxic work culture and mishandling of abuse allegations. Employees are reportedly excited for the leadership change. Kotick's departure marks a significant change for the video game industry after his 33-year tenure at Activision Blizzard.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has stated that he is willing to stay on for as long as Microsoft needs him after the potential acquisition. Kotick, who is currently under contract until April 2024, had previously been rumored to leave once the deal closed. He addressed allegations of culture issues at Activision Blizzard, stating that an investigation found "no evidence" of harassment being ignored by management. Kotick expressed enthusiasm for the deal, citing the competitive landscape and the need for talent in AI and machine learning. The acquisition is currently awaiting approval from the UK's Competition And Markets Authority.
Diablo IV, the latest video game from Activision Blizzard, has broken the company's sales record by generating over $666 million in global sales in just five days. The game has become Blizzard Entertainment's fastest-selling game ever. The sales record comes as the company faces a pending battle with the Federal Trade Commission over a planned acquisition by Microsoft, which has been blocked by the U.K.'s Competition Market Authority due to concerns about Microsoft's domination of the cloud gaming space.