Activision Blizzard boss Robert Kotick is stepping down as CEO.
The news came in an email to staff – made public by the firm’s newsroom – in which the executive revealed he was leaving the company on December 29 after 32 years.
“I cannot adequately express my pride for the people who continue to contribute to our success and all those who have helped during the 32 years I have led this company,” Kotick wrote.
“We are now part of the most respected company in the world. This is not a coincidence.
“Phil Spencer has appreciated the magic of ABK for decades. When he approached Brian and me two years ago and offered to buy the company, it was immediately clear that combining our businesses would allow us to continue to lead a growing list of capable, well-funded competitors.”
In a memo distributed internally at Microsoft — and reported by The Verge — Spencer thanked Kotick for his service to the industry.
To top it all off, the Xbox boss announced a number of organizational changes to “bring” Activision Blizzard into the company.
Activision Blizzard VP Thomas Teeple, as well as Activision, Blizzard and King presidents Rob Kostic, Mike Ibarra and Tjodolf Sommestad, will now report to Xbox president of game content and studios Matt Booty.
Activision Blizzard’s senior vice president of corporate affairs and chief communications officer Lulu Meservi is leaving the company in January.
“At the leadership level, these changes will provide the clarity and accountability necessary to achieve our ambitious goals and foster a culture that welcomes, empowers and is committed to gaming for all,” Spencer wrote.
“We have an exciting lineup of games for 2024 from Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, King and Xbox Game Studios, and I know we’re all looking forward to sharing more information with our gaming communities when the time is right.”