This is the huge surprise of this beginning of the week: Microsoft has just offered Activision-Blizzard for 70 billion dollars. After weeks of controversy around accusations of toxic cultures at the American publisher, the fate of its big boss, Bobby Kotick, remained in suspense.
There are landmark takeovers, and the one Microsoft just made is one of them. By offering Activision-Blizzard, the creator of the Xbox does not only sign one of the biggest takeovers in the history of entertainment, it also secures legendary licenses, including Warcraft, Call of Duty or even Overwatch. The publisher had been entangled in multiple cases of harassment and toxic corporate culture for several weeks, and this takeover could sign a complete reset of its internal practices. But, there is a but.
Bobby Kotick still there
Pointed out for the chaotic management of the various accusations and for having himself been one of the actors in them, Bobby Kotick, the big boss of Activision-Blizzard will remain in office after the acquisition of the publisher by Microsoft.
The information is confirmed on Twitter by Andy Robinson, journalist at VGC. Whoever holds the position of CEO of the Western publisher number 1 should thus remain master of the place… at least for a while.
Because, on the official announcement posted on the Xbox blog, the manufacturer is less categorical. This specifies that he will remain “during the transition period” the CEO of Activision-Blizzard, but does not mention the rest once everything is finalized.
A long way to go before the actual takeover
However, the road is still (very) long before this dizzying deal is completely finalized. Microsoft will have to have this takeover approved by the publisher's shareholders, but also by the various competition authorities across the globe.
For Zenimax (which owns Bethesda), the Redmond firm had already had to show its credentials by offering relative autonomy to its new jewel, bought in 2020 for 8,1 billion dollars.
No doubt that by confirming for a time the presence of the very controversial Bobby Kotick on board, Microsoft is already ensuring a few bullets in its camp, failing to truly wipe the slate clean to mark the occasion. Final response by June 30, 2023, the date on which the deal will be truly ratified.
