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11.10.2023 - 11:17 / eurogamer.net / Bobby Kotick / Candy Crush / James
Freed from his tenure as a US talk show host, Gavin and Stacey star James Corden yesterday teamed up with controversial boss Bobby Kotick to host a townhall meeting for Activision Blizzard employees.
The internal event, held days before Microsoft is expected to finally close its $68.7bn takeover of the company, was not available to view publicly, but Windows Central has reported on what was discussed.
Kotick reportedly reminisced about Activision's journey as a company so far and also dropped several hints about its future — including an intriguing mention of the long-dormant Guitar Hero franchise.
There does not seem to have been any mention made of a potential exit by Kotick following Microsoft's acquisition of the business. There also does not seem to have been any mention made of the company's various harassment scandals.
When asked by James Corden how Activision will retain the company's culture while part of Microsoft, Kotick told the Cats star that the company had a «magic» and «special» culture — and that it was that same «magic» which had attracted Microsoft.
Looking to the future of gaming, Kotick told Corden he expected devices akin to Elon Musk's Neuralink — an implantable brain-computer interface — to push things forward.
«I think you'll see things like Neuralink — you'll actually be able to interact with things on the screen, where there isn't a controller,» Kotick said, noting that this could mean a headset, earpiece, or «other type of sensor».
Kotick said he was keen to see Activision titles — «the very best franchises in all of video games» — backed by the development research and resources of Microsoft.
«The re-emergence of Guitar Hero and other things would not be possible without the different types of resources,» he noted.
Microsoft's expected acquisition of Activision Blizzard this week will close a 20-month chapter of court hearings and regulatory hurdles, as it finally takes ownership of everything from Call of Duty to Candy Crush. Activision has said not to expect its new games on Xbox Game Pass immediately, however.
Image credit: iDominick
Play up to 10 hours of the game from October 19-22.
Xbox maker Microsoft closed its $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,75,620 crore) deal for Activision Blizzard on Friday, swelling its heft in the video-gaming market with best-selling titles including Call of Duty to better compete with industry leader Sony.
Update: Well, there we go. Microsoft has wasted no time, and has officially concluded the transaction to acquire Activision Blizzard King. The announcement comes via Xbox Wire, where Phil Spencer writes about this historic merger. Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard King, will remain in place for at least the rest of 2023.
Microsoft is apparently not spooked by closing the deal on the unlucky day of Friday the 13th.
Following the confirmation earlier today (October 13) that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been closed, it’s been announced that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will be staying in his role until the end of the year, but it's implied that he'll be stepping down in 2024.
Twenty-one months since Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal was announced, the $68.7 million merger is complete. It’s a new era for both Activision Blizzard and Microsoft as the ink dries on the video game industry’s largest acquisition, which puts Microsoft and its Xbox brand in a vital position moving forward. Change is expected at both companies, starting at the top: Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is expected to exit the company after a transition that’ll keep him on “through the end of 2023,” according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer.
It has been an exceptionally eventful day over at Activision Blizzard’s slice of the gaming world. In an email to staff, Bobby Kotick revealed that he is stepping down as CEO of Activision Blizzard after 32 years of leading the company. This news comes following the announcement that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is complete.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has explained that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will remain with the publisher "through the end of 2023."
Following confirmation of Microsoft’s buyout of Activision Blizzard, controversial CEO Bobby Kotick has confirmed he will remain boss of the Call of Duty maker only until the end of 2023.
The Communications Workers of America union has expressed delight in Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard, calling it a “new day” for workers at the Call of Duty maker.
By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.
After nearly two years since the announcement, Microsoft has officially acquired Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion. Now, in emails from Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox Head Phil Spencer and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, we know Kotick will remain CEO through the end of 2023. Kotick says Spencer specifically asked him to remain as CEO through the end of the year to help with the transition, now that Activision Blizzard is part of the Xbox first-party umbrella.