Execs Clash: Kotick Shades Riccitiello as 'Worst CEO'

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick recently launched a scathing attack on his ex-EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a podcast appearance on Grit. The comments were made alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, who hinted Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure.

Kotick acknowledged EA's superior business model compared to Activision's, stating that he would have gladly paid to keep Riccitiello in the CEO position indefinitely. He clarified that this opinion wasn't influenced by Gordon's presence, adding, "Our fear was always that Bing was going to run EA."

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed a period of financial struggles and significant layoffs. His tenure, which began in 2007, was marked by controversial decisions, including a proposal to shareholders suggesting Battlefield players pay per reload. He later served as CEO of Unity Technologies, leaving in 2023 amidst controversy surrounding installation fees. His time at Unity also included a public apology to developers for his disparaging remarks about those opposed to microtransactions.

Interestingly, Kotick, who oversaw Activision Blizzard's $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, revealed EA's multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He admitted that EA's business model was, in many respects, more robust and stable than Activision's.

While Kotick's leadership at Activision Blizzard resulted in significant financial success, his tenure was also plagued by controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of serious misconduct accusations surfaced. However, Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews found no evidence of systemic sexual harassment or improper board actions concerning workplace misconduct. A $54 million settlement was reached with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023, with the department stating that no court or independent investigation substantiated allegations of widespread sexual harassment or improper board conduct.

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