Activision Blizzard to report to Phil Spencer as CEO following Microsoft acquisition

It's unclear if Bobby Kotick will remain in charge of Activision Blizzard after the deal is finalized.

Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard for almost $70 billion
Image via Microsoft

Microsoft is set to buy Activision Blizzard in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, which will be one of the biggest negotiations ever seen in the gaming and entertainment industry.

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For now, Bobby Kotick will continue being Activision Blizzard’s CEO. When the deal is finalized, Activision Blizzard will report directly to Microsoft Gaming’s CEO, Phil Spencer. It’s not totally clear whether Kotick will stay on or leave after the transaction is concluded.

https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1483431818384846850

The news of Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard comes just one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick had been hiding information amid sexual harassment and misconduct allegations surrounding Activision Blizzard.

Activision Blizzard has reportedly fired or pushed out “dozens of employees” and disciplined about 40 others since July 2021, when the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued the company over the alleged mistreatment of female employees.

Spencer has shown concern in the past regarding the allegations surrounding Activision Blizzard. He and the Xbox leadership reportedly evaluated their relationship with Activision Blizzard after the Wall Street Journal reported in November 2021 that Kotick was aware of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct toward female employees for years and did nothing.

Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, only behind Tencent and Sony, with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Popular games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft will become a part of the Xbox Game Pass portfolio.

Author
Image of Leonardo Biazzi
Leonardo Biazzi
Staff writer and CS:GO lead. Leonardo has been passionate about games since he was a kid and graduated in Journalism in 2018. Before Leonardo joined Dot Esports in 2019, he worked for Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. Leonardo also worked for HLTV.org between 2020 and 2021 as a senior writer, until he returned to Dot Esports and became part of the staff team.