Bobby Kotick posts a "farewell message"

[John Elden Ring]

Bobby Kotick: With gratitude

A note from outgoing Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, two months after the completion of the company's merger with Microsoft.

newsroom.activisionblizzard.com

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent the following email to employees:

Extraordinary People,

Over the years, my passion for video games has often been attributed to Pitfall!, River Raid, and Kaboom!. I love those Atari 2600 games, but the game that first captured my imagination was Mystery House, developed by Roberta and Ken Williams. I played it on a borrowed Apple II night after night while in college at the University of Michigan.

Mystery House was a text adventure with some primitive sprite-based graphics. (Fittingly, we now own Mystery House and the company that published it, Sierra On Line.) The world in which the game was played was largely left to the player’s imagination. I envisioned rich, vast worlds with all sorts of interactive, animated life that would enable players to fulfill their varied aspirations—all in a simulated universe that offered unlimited possibilities for challenge, connection, and fun.

Forty years later, as my last day leading this company inches closer, I marvel at how far the talented people at our company have come toward realizing the great potential of games. You have transformed a hobbyist form of entertainment into the world’s most engaging medium. It has been the privilege of my lifetime to work alongside you as we broadened the appeal of games.

Perhaps the most important part of my job has been to help bring talented people together, provide the best resources possible, and foster an environment that encourages inspiration, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

I cannot adequately express the pride I have in the people who continue to contribute to our success and all those who have helped throughout my 32 years leading this company.

We are now part of the world’s most admired company. That isn’t an accident.

Phil Spencer has appreciated the magic of ABK for decades. When he approached Brian and me two years ago and proposed acquiring the company, it was immediately obvious that the combination of our businesses would enable us to continue to lead as the list of capable, well-resourced competitors grows.

Phil shares our values and recognizes our talents. He is passionate about our games and the people who make them. He has bold ambition.

As we move into our next exciting chapter, you could not be in better hands.

I will always be profoundly grateful to the people who contributed tirelessly to building this company and I am confident you will keep inspiring joy and uniting people through the power of play.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Bobby Kotick

 

[Gods&Monsters]

Bye Bitch

 

[Jim Ryan]

He might be joining Bungie...

 

[voke]

Honestly goat tier business man. No denying he ran an impressive ship.

 

[flaccidsnake]

Love to see a hated villain get what they deserve: 375 million dollars.

 

[Jim Ryan]

Honestly goat tier business man. No denying he ran an impressive ship.

And now?

 

[nongkris]

Epstein's friend and alleged sexual assaulter. MS is filled with them *ahem* Bill Gates.

Phil Spencer gave him exactly what he wanted in a golden parachute, as the acquisition news came right around the stocks were taking a hit due to their many lawsuits.

 

[Zzero]

Honestly goat tier business man. No denying he ran an impressive ship.

He brought Activision, which had left games entirely, for half a million dollars (less value than a fancy house) and turned it into the biggest independent company in gaming, including selling into and buying out of the terribly run Vivendi with more assets than before. He is the financial visionary of gaming and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.* I do hope he comes back in some form with more addictive gambling games for brainlets. Suck 'em dry Bobby! Suck 'em like you did those employee milk bottle!


*Sierra fans excepted, of course.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

'We are now part of the world’s most admired company. That isn’t an accident.' ... I don't think I'd use the word 'admired'

 

[Loy310]

He thinks the worst managed Xbox business will continue to lead Acti in a good way. OK.

 

[arvfab]

 

[Zzero]

He thinks the worst managed Xbox business will continue to lead Acti in a good way. OK.

He has zero faith in GP and said as much in the trial but hey, its a goodbye letter so might as well be nice.

 

[ethomaz]

 

[KiryuRealty]

At least he didn’t just photocopy his ass.

 

[Shmunter]

Farewell, sweet prince….

 

[Dr Bass]

The world’s most admired company? Lol

If he’s talking about this, it’s a complete lie. Guess they adapt quickly at MS after acquisitions, I mean come on.

World's Most Admired Companies 2023

The 25th Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies list suggests that tech giants’ peers respect them as much as ever.

www.fortune.com

Still way too high, though.

 

[Loy310]

Honestly goat tier business man. No denying he ran an impressive ship.

He go lucky, Blizzard wanted to sell and ex ea dev left ea to go to acti and make cod.

 

[Zzero]

He go lucky, Blizzard wanted to sell and ex ea dev left ea to go to acti and make cod.

I can accept getting lucky once or twice but how many times has Acti gotten lucky now under him? Its initial turnaround in the 90s? Tony Hawk? Poaching Treyarch? Leaving WWII behind for the present being a great idea? Getting lumped into the games division with Blizzard by Vivendi? Guitar Hero? Vivendi accepting his proposed buyout? Skylanders? King? CoD mobile/Warzone? Eventually it stops being luck.

 

[On Demand]

Stop dick riding a sexual predator.