Bobby Kotick Declares Former EA Boss John Riccitiello 'Worst CEO in Video Games'

Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, recently slammed his former EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a podcast appearance on Grit. This statement, made alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, who hinted Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure, is surprising given Kotick's admission that EA's business model was, in many respects, superior to Activision's. Kotick even stated that Activision would have gladly paid to keep Riccitiello in the CEO role indefinitely.

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed a period of financial setbacks 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, a position he left 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.

Kotick, who oversaw Activision Blizzard's $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, revealed that EA had made multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He acknowledged EA's stronger business stability, further highlighting the unexpected nature of his criticism of Riccitiello.

Kotick's own leadership at Activision Blizzard, while financially successful, was also embroiled in controversy. The company faced numerous allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and accusations of mishandling serious misconduct claims. While Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews refuted these allegations, a $54 million settlement was reached with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023. The settlement concluded that no court or independent investigation substantiated claims of systemic sexual harassment or improper board conduct regarding workplace misconduct.

The interview also saw Kotick share his less-than-favorable opinion on Universal's 2016 Warcraft film adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."