Microsoft Merger Officially Closed - Bobby Kotick to Stay on Throughout 2023

Blizzard Posted 2023/10/13 at 9:25 AM by Archimtiros

21-month struggle with regulatorshis desire to remain working with Microsoft

Bobby Kotick

Team,

Today marks a milestone in our company’s celebrated history.

Combining with Microsoft will bring new resources and new opportunities to our extraordinary teams worldwide. It will also enable us to deliver more fun, more joy, and more connection to more players than ever before.

This moment is possible because of your efforts over four decades to innovate, inspire, and achieve.

When Brian Kelly and I began this journey in 1991, we intended to build a company that would have great impact and lasting value. Your tireless work and unwavering commitment to excellence enabled us to do just that. In the 1980s, we pioneered independent, third-party game development with Pitfall, River Raid, and Kaboom. In the 1990s, we united the world with online multiplayer games like MechWarrior, Warcraft, and StarCraft. In the 2000s, we introduced Call of Duty, which became one of the most successful entertainment franchises in history. We also introduced Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which entered popular culture in ways few videogames ever have. In the 2010s, we debuted Candy Crush Saga, which to date has been downloaded more than five billion times and contributed to our total worldwide players being fifty percent female.

Your dedication is what makes it possible for us to continually push envelopes, break records, and delight players. Amid the uncertainty of the last 21 months, you’ve remained focused, as always, on serving our players and supporting each other.

I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition. Phil has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.

Brian and I couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter for ABK. We now join one of the most successful global companies, poised for unprecedented opportunities to connect the world through our games.

As a part of Microsoft, we will be even better, together.

Bobby
his own message to Microsoft employees

Our Next Adventure

It’s a big day for us at Activision Blizzard. For more than four decades, our players have inspired us to push the boundaries of imagination with iconic universes including Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft.

Today we begin a new chapter as we officially become a part of the Microsoft family, uniting with the amazing Xbox team and co-creating the future of gaming together.

In our earliest days we were a modest collective of designers who raided rivers, commanded choppers, and avoided pitfalls. Now as part of Xbox, we will continue our mission to deliver the world’s most epic interactive entertainment experiences to more people, more platforms, and across more worlds than ever before.

All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you, our incredible gaming community.

To the reapers, fighters, rogues, and airstrikers,
The sharpshooters, revivers, healers, and bubble bursters,
Sorcerers, shamans, slayers, and survivors,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for playing with us. We do everything we do for you, and we can't wait to embark on our next adventure together.

–The team at Activision Blizzard

12 37

Comment by Nazamberbye bye bobbyComment by nvrsbrPlease let 2024 bring even better news...
/wink /winkComment by MindOfTimWe've lasted this long. We can wait 2 more months to be rid of BobbyComment by TrueLuciferIt's Just bobbys WorldComment by ApocalypseAPCannot wait for the end of 2023 then.Comment by ToupygaIt will be hard to beat this W in 2024Comment by corrupt733He's probably getting a #$%^ ton of money and doesn't have to resign or get fired in disgrace. Bobby owned us all.Comment by Elazul01Bye bye Bobby!Comment by KimedGood riddance. Won't be missed by most.Comment by HilldresIt's over at last, Chinese players have waited this day for nine and a half months. Hope the games can come back to China soon.Comment by ChaosMonkeyMassive L (except Kotick leaving)Comment by GhostileI can't wait to hear who we will hate next!

Metzen?Comment by DakaraGamerIt's Bobby's world, we're just living in it.Comment by zugzugzuugaint bobys world no moreComment by Anarch12911Thank you for your hard work, Bobby!

We will miss you! Too few people appreciate the effort and positive changes you brought!

♡♡♡Comment by CSM101Wow, Mechwarrior actually rated a mention in all this.

Loved Mechwarrior 2 as a kid.Comment by MadSoritmihcraLmgrats MS, cant wait to see what happens with this new poolComment by ZarcoBye BobbyComment by MadSoritmihcraLmI can't wait to hear who we will hate next!

Metzen?Comment by MishkkaWoW is saved!

12 37