Activision-Blizzard is stuck with Bobby Kotick if the FTC blocks Microsoft’s takeover

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February 14, 2023 10:30 AM

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We noted last week that a lot of gamers who traditionally distrust the increasingly oligopolistic gaming market situation were still hoping to see Microsoft subsume Activision-Blizzard as it would be the only thing to finally topple the company’s CEO, Bobby Kotick, who threatened to have his own assistant murdered and suffered zero consequences. Why bring this up again? Well, Fox Business is reporting that Kotick, who gave a bizarre pair of xenophobia-baiting interviews stuffed with insults for regulators on various news outlets last week, is staying put if Microsoft’s ABK buyout doesn’t go through, essentially confirming what the industry already assumed.

Fox writes that its unnamed sources say that if the FTC manages to successfully waylay the buyout (as it is ostensibly trying to do), Kotick will “absolutely remain at the gaming giant to run the company,” which certainly sounds a bit like a threat. However, the same sources claim that Activision on the whole is confident that the deal will still happen.

• Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout is official, Kotick to stay through end of 2023

• UK government body ‘opens the door’ for Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard in preliminary approval

• UK CMA confirms block of Microsoft’s acquisition of ActiBlizz, prompting a restructuring of the deal

• UK regulatory body seeks additional comments regarding the Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard merger

• The FTC suspends its administrative challenge of the Microsoft Activision-Blizzard merger

• Consumers hoping to block Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard lose in court yet again

• Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard file a legal request for the FTC to drop its August hearing

• Activision-Blizzard Q2 2023: Diablo IV doubled Blizzard’s revenues as MAUs continue decline

• Rumor: Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard are negotiating an extension on their merger deal

• FTC loses its attempt at a pause of Microsoft ABK merger, Sony signs the 10-year Call of Duty agreement

• The FTC asks the Ninth Circuit for a ‘temporary pause’ of Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard merger

• Yes, the FTC is appealing the decision not to block Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard merger

• Judge denies FTC’s injunction request, clearing the way for Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard merger

• FTC uses Zenimax’s current exclusivity as a primary argument against Microsoft’s ActiBlizz buyout in court

• Court grants FTC temporary restraining order to block Microsoft/ABK merge ahead of ongoing lawsuit

• FTC asks US court to block alleged Microsoft/ABK plan to ‘consummate’ merge despite ongoing lawsuit

• Microsoft is reportedly considering pulling Activision out of the UK market over regulatory block

• Bobby Kotick decries ‘aggressive labor movement’ trying to ‘destabilize’ Activision-Blizzard

• South Korea approves merger of Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard as both companies continue to fight UK regulators

• Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard gets full clearance from China

• The EU has conditionally approved Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard

• UK government body issues order that blocks Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard from ‘acquiring an interest’ in each other

• The EU is apparently set to approve Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout after all

• Lawful Neutral: What if Activision-Blizzard just… sold Blizzard?

• Block of Activision-Blizzard merger is ‘darkest day’ for Microsoft in the UK, Brad Smith argues

• Activision-Blizzard Q1 2023: ABK revenues are up as Blizzard MAUs fall back down to reality

• UK regulators block Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard

• Japan drops Microsoft/Activision-Blizzard antitrust probe as lawmakers scrutinize Japanese gaming market

• UK regulator finds Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout won’t harm competition or Call of Duty on PlayStation

• Activision-Blizzard exec calls out Sony’s Jim Ryan for charade over Call of Duty

• Sony legal docs suggest hypothetical ways Microsoft could hurt Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles

• The FTC grants Microsoft’s request for Sony docs as leaks say the EU will approve ABK merger

• Microsoft strikes deal to put Activision games on NVIDIA GeForce Now

• Microsoft and Nintendo ink deal to put Call of Duty on Nintendo consoles for the next decade

• Activision-Blizzard is stuck with Bobby Kotick if the FTC blocks Microsoft’s takeover

• Sony argues Microsoft’s doc request in FTC lawsuit is tantamount to harassment

• UK regulators suggest Microsoft choked Google Stadia out of the cloud gaming market

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick says Sony won’t return his phone calls

• UK regulators find that Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout could harm UK market

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick predicts a bleak future for a UK that rejects the Microsoft merger

• Activision-Blizzard Q4 2022: Blizzard revenues, MAUs spike thanks to WoW Dragonflight and Overwatch 2

• FTC and Microsoft confirm a lack of ‘substantive’ settlement talks as UK regulatory body extends its investigation

• FTC lawsuit against Microsoft enters pre-trial hearings today while the merger is approved in Chile

• Microsoft claims the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit violates its fifth amendment rights

• Gamers file lawsuit to stop Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard over monopoly concerns

• The FTC is moving to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard

• Microsoft to concede Call of Duty to Sony for 10 years to stave off UK government’s halt of ActiBlizz buyout

• European Union’s executive arm begins investigating the Microsoft-ActiBlizz buyout

• UK regulatory body puts out a call for public evidence and opinions on the Microsoft Activision-Blizzard buyout

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick downplays regulatory scrutiny, says Microsoft deal is on track for 2023

• Microsoft admits that Activision-Blizzard acquisition is primarily driven by a desire to get into mobile gaming

• Microsoft argues Acti-Blizz buyout won’t stifle competition because its games are ‘nothing unique’

• Activision-Blizzard tells the SEC it hasn’t yet negotiated Kotick’s future with Microsoft

• Some U.S. senators give the Microsoft-Activision buyout the big stink-eye

• Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard offer happened lightning-fast – and Microsoft wasn’t the only bidder

• Warren Buffet’s company stands to make a mint on the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal

• WAPO’s latest Bobby Kotick article lays bare his vindictive litigation history

• Microsoft is acquiring Activision-Blizzard, Bobby Kotick is still CEO

The news comes just as Activision-Blizzard announced its plan to force more workers back into physical offices this spring.

Today, Activision and Blizzard announced a return to office plan to employees. It begins April/June, depending on the studio. The company WILL see a large Reduction In Force if this occurs. In this thread, I'm going to explain why this is a terrible idea. 1/14

— Non Biners, Drive Ins, and Dives💙 (@LeastMyHairIsOk) February 14, 2023

Source: Fox Business via GameDeveloper, Twitter

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