Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s largest game publishers, announced on Sunday that its long-time CEO Bobby Kotick would be leaving the company after an historic 11 year run. Kotick has been a driving force behind Activision Blizzard’s success over the last decade and will leave the company in good standing. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a small independent publisher to one of the most recognizable and successful game companies in the world.
Kotick was instrumental in merging Activision and Vivendi Games in 2008 to form Activision Blizzard. This union turned the companies into one of the largest game publishers in the world and set the stage for Activision Blizzard’s success over the next decade. Since the merger, Activision Blizzard has grown significantly in both size and scope and controls some of the world’s most popular franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch.
Kotick’s tenure was not without its challenges, however. Kotick was often criticized for his aggressive business practices, including layoffs and focusing too heavily on shareholder value over player experience. In spite of this, Kotick’s business acumen paid off as Activision Blizzard was able to navigate a difficult financial period in the late 2010s.
Kotick will be succeeded by acting CEO and COO Daniel Alegre, who has been with the company since 2012. Alegre is expected to continue the vision Kotick set for Activision Blizzard but may move the company in a different direction. Alegre has been vocal about his commitment to prioritizing innovation and the player experience, a sentiment that was echoed in the company’s announcement.
Kotick’s legacy at Activision Blizzard will no doubt live on through the numerous successful titles and franchises that the company has released over the past 11 years. It remains to be seen what kind of impact Alegre will have on the company but one thing is for sure: Activision Blizzard is in good hands going forward.
