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

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick recently slammed his EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a podcast appearance on Grit. Kotick, speaking alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, acknowledged EA's superior business stability compared to Activision's, yet paradoxically stated a preference for Riccitiello's continued leadership. He clarified this seemingly contradictory statement by expressing concern that Gordon might otherwise have taken the helm at EA.

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed a period of financial struggles and layoffs. His tenure, which began in 2007, was marked by controversial proposals, including a suggestion to shareholders that Battlefield players pay per reload. He later served as CEO of Unity Technologies, leaving 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, whose leadership at Activision Blizzard culminated in Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition in 2023, revealed that EA had made multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He admitted to recognizing EA's stronger business model.

While Kotick's tenure at Activision Blizzard concluded with significant financial success, it was also plagued by controversy. Allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and mishandling of serious misconduct claims surfaced. While Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews found these allegations unsubstantiated, a $54 million settlement was reached with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023. The settlement noted that no court or independent investigation validated claims of widespread sexual harassment or improper board conduct regarding workplace misconduct.

In the same interview, Kotick also offered his scathing review of Universal's 2016 Warcraft adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."