- The former CEO of Activision Blizzard believes Microsoft is not cut out to be a gaming company.
- He advised the company to quit the business shortly after Satya Nadella became the CEO.
- Bobby Kotick also believes that Microsoft needed Activision to survive.
The Activision Blizzard acquisition saga is nearly two years old already. This deal saw Microsoft purchasing the Call of Duty publisher for nearly $70 billion after months of back-and-forth court hearings and arguments.
Since then, Bobby Kotick has also resigned from his position as the CEO of Activision Blizzard. He was largely in favor of the deal before his resignation, but a recent interview shows that Bobby Kotick was never too confident in Microsoft’s abilities as a gaming giant.
Why it matters: The former CEO understands the gaming industry better than most people since he was part of Activision Blizzard’s rise to fame, playing a major role in the establishment of titles like Call of Duty.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Grit podcast, Bobby Kotick recalled his first meeting with Satya Nadella after his appointment as the Microsoft CEO.
Satya Nadella asked Bobby Kotick for advice on the gaming business since Xbox was in a difficult position at the time. However, the then-Activision Blizzard CEO was quite blunt and stated that Microsoft did not belong in the industry.
You shouldn’t be in gaming. You’re not a creative company.
-Satya Nadella
Instead, Bobby Kotick believed buying SAP or Workday would be a better investment for Microsoft. He stated that the recent Activision Blizzard deal only cemented his opinions further, making it clear that Microsoft was in dire need of the purchase going through.
You need us because you’re not going to figure out gaming with what you have.
Following the announcement of Xbox Muse, Microsoft has garnered criticism from developers for potentially reducing creativity within the industry. In light of recent discussions, Bobby Kotick’s statement seems quite interesting.
What are your thoughts on the former Activision Blizzard CEO’s perspective? Do you agree with his judgment? Let’s discuss this in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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