Farewell letter from ActiBlizz CEO Kotick Pens

We knew Activision Blizzard’s longtime CEO Bobby Kotick would do the same Resign at the end of this year next His company is the historic acquisition of Microsoft– but we didn’t know he’d officially be gone until the end a working day For 2023, technically two days before the end of the year. This information was one of the many messages he posted today.

Kotick, who has been mired in controversy for 32 years at the helm of Actiblaze, wrote: farewell message Wednesday, December 20 to employees and officially announced that his last day will be December 29 (last day of work in 2023, he is not a weekend warrior). The letter, titled “Bobby Kotick: With Gratitude,” is addressed to “awesome people” and begins with Kotick’s story as a big “G” player.

Over the years, my passion for video games has often been attributed to this Laughter!, river expedition, And Kaboom!. I love these Atari 2600 games, but the game that first captured my imagination was. mysterious house, developed by Roberta and Ken Williams. I played it night after night on a borrowed Apple II while attending the University of Michigan.

mysterious house It was a text adventure with some early anime-based graphics. (It is fitting that we have it now.) mysterious house and the company that published it, Sierra Online). The world in which the game is played is largely left to the player’s imagination. I envision rich, expansive worlds with all kinds of interactive and vibrant life that allow players to realize their various desires – all in a simulated world that offers limitless possibilities for challenge, connection, and fun.

He continued to praise the hard work of the same Activision Blizzard employees who… Accused him Contributing to a work environment including sexual harassment and discrimination –He strongly and strongly denied the allegations. Again in 2021, Kotik thought of resigning If he can’t “fix” the company culture, he ultimately decides to stay and continue receiving his salary. It’s unclear whether the company’s culture was set, but the comment came in the same week He admitted to writing a company-wide email As a result, the strike started at the employee level.

Kotick’s letter later described Microsoft/Xbox as “the most admired company in the world” and explained that major acquisitions (… The Federal Trade Commission tried to ban it) It was not an “accident”. However, he then turned his attention to Xbox CEO Phil Spencer edges ReportMatt Booty, head of Microsoft Studios, will now lead operations at Actibliz.

Phil Spencer has admired the magic of ABK for decades. As he approached brian [Bulatao, Chief Administrative Officer] He and I offered to take over the company two years ago, and it was immediately clear that by combining our businesses we would be a leader as the list of capable and well-resourced competitors continued to grow.

Phil shares our values ​​and appreciates our talents. He is passionate about our games and the people who make them. He has bold ambitions.

As we embark on the next exciting chapter, you are in the best of hands.

It’s unclear how Microsoft will handle Actibliz’s recent commitment to back office for remote QA testers, which… He described the situation as a “soft dismissal”.

Regarding Kotik’s departure, I quote my late grandfather Pasquale Cestaro: “You don’t have to go home, but you have to leave.”

Correction 12/20/2023 2:20 pm ET: In fact, Matt Booty will oversee the operations of Actibliz.