Bobby Kotick Slams John Riccitiello as 'Worst Video Game CEO'

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick recently expressed strong criticism towards ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello during a podcast episode of Grit, alongside former EA Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon. Kotick described Riccitiello as "the worst CEO in video games," highlighting concerns that Gordon might have taken over EA otherwise. Despite acknowledging EA’s business model as more stable than Activision’s, Kotick mentioned they would have been willing to pay for Riccitiello to remain CEO indefinitely.

Riccitiello departed EA in 2013 after financial struggles and layoffs, serving as CEO since 2007. His leadership included controversial ideas such as charging Battlefield players for reloading their guns. Later, he joined Unity Technologies in 2014 but resigned in 2023 due to disputes over installation fees. During his time at Unity, Riccitiello faced backlash for derogatory comments about developers opposing microtransactions.

Interestingly, Kotick revealed that EA attempted multiple acquisitions of Activision Blizzard. While Kotick exited Activision Blizzard with financial success, his tenure was marred by controversies surrounding workplace culture and misconduct allegations. Despite these issues, a 2023 settlement dismissed claims of systemic sexual harassment against the company and its leadership.

Kotick also shared his opinion on the 2016 movie adaptation of Activision Blizzard's Warcraft, labeling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."