In a candid discussion on Grit, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick did not hold back when discussing former Electronic Arts (EA) CEO John Riccitiello. Kotick outright declared Riccitiello as “the worst CEO in video games,” even joking that Activision would have paid to keep him in charge of EA indefinitely.
Kotick made these comments during a joint appearance on the podcast alongside Bing Gordon, EA’s former Chief Creative Officer. He explained that Activision feared Gordon taking over EA and turning the company around.
“I’m not saying this because [Gordon is] sitting here,” Kotick said. “Our fear was always that Bing was going to run [EA]. And we would have paid for Riccitiello to stay a CEO forever… like we thought he was the worst CEO in video games.”
Riccitiello, who served as EA’s CEO from 2007 to 2013, oversaw several controversial decisions that negatively impacted the company’s reputation. One of the most infamous moments from his tenure was when he jokingly suggested Battlefield players should be charged to reload their weapons—a remark that only fueled negative sentiment toward EA. Meanwhile, Activision’s Call of Duty franchise surged ahead of EA’s Battlefield series in popularity during that time.
EA and Activision Nearly Merged
Kotick also revealed that EA had tried to acquire Activision multiple times.
“[EA] tried to buy us a bunch of times. We had merger conversations,” he recalled.
Despite these discussions, the two gaming giants never joined forces. Interestingly, Kotick admitted that Activision once viewed EA’s business model as superior, though Gordon countered that Blizzard’s success ultimately outshined EA.
EA Passed on Major Gaming Franchises
During the same interview, Gordon highlighted that EA had multiple opportunities to acquire Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and Blizzard but ultimately passed on all three. Activision swooped in, acquiring these properties and turning them into industry-defining franchises.
Kotick also took a shot at Blizzard’s Warcraft movie, calling it “one of the worst movies” he had ever seen. He criticized Blizzard’s decision to invest so heavily in the film, arguing that it was a mistake for the company to divert so much attention away from game development.
While Kotick himself remains a polarizing figure in the industry, his blunt take on EA’s leadership and missed opportunities offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes rivalries between two of gaming’s biggest companies.
