Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick to Step Down in 2024 Following Microsoft Acquisition
Following the completion of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it has been confirmed that CEO Bobby Kotick will remain in his role until the end of the year, but it is implied that he will be stepping down in 2024.
In an email sent to employees on the Activision Blizzard website, Kotick expressed his gratitude for their contributions and stated, “Today marks a milestone in our company’s celebrated history. This moment is possible because of your efforts over four decades to innovate, inspire, and achieve.”
While Kotick will oversee the transitional period of the merger, he hinted that he will not be staying indefinitely. He mentioned, “I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition. Phil [Spencer] has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.”
Approval from the United Kingdom’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), was also granted for the acquisition deal. Five months ago, the regulator had initially blocked the merger due to concerns about its potential impact on competition in the UK’s cloud gaming market. However, Microsoft addressed these concerns by making amendments to the proposal, including the sale of cloud streaming rights for Activision games to Ubisoft. Martin Coleman, the chair of the independent panel that reviewed the deal, stated that the revised agreement is now “better for competition, better for consumers, and better for economic growth.”
The finalization of the deal was announced shortly after by Xbox boss Phil Spencer. In a statement, Spencer said, “Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too.”
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