Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick departs in just a few days
Controversial Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick will depart the company on 29th December, it's been announced.
Kotick's reign lasted 32 years, during which time the company became one of the biggest and most influential video games publishers on the planet.
His departure this month is not unexpected — Activision Blizzard had previously confirmed Kotick's presence only until the end of this year to «ensure a smooth and seamless integration» following Microsoft's long-winded but ultimately successful $68.7bn acquisition. Now, we know exactly when Kotick leaves and how the company will be shaped without him.
Within Microsoft and under the leadership of Xbox, the majority of Activision's other executives — including Blizzard president Mike Ybarra — will report directly to the recently-promoted Xbox exec Matt Booty.
But there's a key promotion for Microsoft exec Jill Braff — an industry veteran with experience at both Nintendo and Sega in the '90s — to the position of Head of ZeniMax/Bethesda studios. Creative leaders within the Bethesda family of studios — such as Todd Howard — will report in to her.
Bobby Kotick signed off to Activision Blizzard employees today in an email now posted to the company's blog. In it, he describes his long-term love of games dating back to the text adventures of Roberta and Ken Williams.
«Mystery House was a text adventure with some primitive sprite-based graphics,» Kotick noted. "(Fittingly, we now own Mystery House and the company that published it, Sierra On Line.)"
The outgoing Activision Blizzard boss did not detail his next career moves, but thanked staff and praised Xbox boss Phil Spencer.
«I cannot adequately express the pride I have in the people who continue to contribute
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