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

Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has publicly criticized ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello, labeling him as "the worst CEO in video games." This sharp critique was made during a discussion on the podcast Grit, where Kotick was joined by former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, who suggested that Riccitiello's leadership played a role in his own departure from EA. Despite acknowledging that EA's business model in many ways surpassed Activision's, Kotick humorously remarked that they would have "paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever," highlighting the perceived negative impact of Riccitiello's leadership on the gaming industry.

Riccitiello, who served as EA's CEO from 2007 to 2013, left the company amid poor financial performance and significant layoffs. His tenure was notably marked by controversial ideas like suggesting that Battlefield players pay a dollar each time they reloaded their weapons. After leaving EA, Riccitiello took the helm at Unity Technologies in 2014 but resigned in 2023 following backlash over proposed install fees. His time at Unity was also fraught with controversy, including a public apology for his harsh comments on developers who opposed microtransactions.

Kotick, who led Activision Blizzard until its acquisition by Microsoft for $68.7 billion in 2023, shared insights into past merger discussions with EA, noting that EA had attempted to acquire Activision multiple times. He praised EA's business stability, indicating a respect for their operational model despite the competitive rivalry.

Kotick's own leadership at Activision Blizzard was financially successful but also controversial. The company faced numerous allegations of a toxic work culture and sexual harassment, culminating in a $54 million settlement with California's Civil Rights Department in December 2023. Despite these challenges, independent reviews and the settlement found no substantiation for claims of systemic sexual harassment or improper handling of misconduct by the board, including Kotick.

In the same interview, Kotick also expressed his disappointment with Universal's 2016 film adaptation of Activision Blizzard's Warcraft, bluntly calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."