Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said that the video game holding company is “in this great position where, you know, we don’t have to make anything but the best games.” The company responsible for Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush Saga, and Overwatch is also making significant strides toward establishing an incredibly inclusive corporate culture.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said, “I’m not really as concerned about the revenues. I want to make sure every one of the games is a lasting franchise that is the very best game it could be.” And to accomplish that goal, he knows the company needs to foster a safe and inviting work environment. In September 2021, the company took a significant step by bringing in Julie Hodges as the chief people officer. Hodges had 32 years of experience as a Disney executive before taking on the role of HR chief.
In April 2022, the company responsible for Crash Bandicoot hired Kristen Hines as its chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. Kotick stated that the company was “excited to have Kristen join our leadership team to help drive even greater improvement.” Hines brought two decades of expertise as a former Accenture executive who also worked in London doing corporate strategy for RSM Robson Rhodes. Additionally, before landing at Bobby Kotick’s Activision Blizzard, Hines handled investment banking for the CIBC World Markets in New York. She reports directly to Hodges.
In July 2022, Activision Blizzard launched the Level Up U program as one aspect of its initiative to increase opportunities in gaming and technology for historically underrepresented communities. This is a three-month intensive program, funded through part of the company’s $250 million diversity fund, to better help people get jobs in gaming. The inaugural program is focused on educating and developing engineering talent.
“The rapid growth of the industry, including our franchises, has made it clear that we need to find new ways to attract and grow talent,” stated Bobby Kotick. “This is the first of many Level Up U programs, and our plan is to expand to other skills areas such as art and animation. I am incredibly excited about the potential of Level Up U.”
Good News: Bobby Kotick Is Building a Better Activision Blizzard
According to the Activision CEO, the company “has ambitious goals to become the most welcoming and inclusive company in the gaming industry. We have already made significant progress ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees.”
Kotick said that he wants to “reiterate my conviction to create the most welcoming and inclusive workplace. We have taken meaningful actions to improve our company and our culture. But there is more to do. To become the model workplace we all aspire to be, more change is required. But I am confident that we will get there.”
According to Kotick, the most successful business leaders are the ones who have helped build institutions of lasting value. Bobby Kotick said that they “are all committed to talent and a culture of excellence. This is usually accomplished by the identification, retention, and development of great people. For me, the most difficult part of the process is accurately assessing character, integrity, and humility. Still, these are the most important factors for success.”
Giving Gamers Hope for the Future of the Industry
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer acknowledged the massive appeal of the games created and distributed under Bobby Kotick’s leadership. “As players and partners, we all know how talented and dedicated the teams and studios are across Activision Blizzard. The legendary games and franchises across that company have delighted millions of people for decades. Coming together, we can accelerate our mission to extend the joy and community of gaming to everyone. We have the capability and opportunity to build simply the best, most engaging, most fun entertainment ecosystem anywhere,” Spencer said.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “Together with Activision Blizzard, we believe [Microsoft has] an incredible opportunity to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, and we will invest and innovate to create the best content, community, and cloud for gamers. We want to make it easier for people to connect and play great games wherever, whenever, and however they want.”
Spencer said he hopes the company can work with Kotick’s company “to make sure we have resources to work on franchises that I love from my childhood and that the teams really want to get. I am looking forward to these conversations. I really think it is about adding resources and increasing capability.”
What games would Bobby Kotick like to see available in the near future? “I have long wanted to release a new part of Guitar Hero and Candy Crush Saga, where players will play against each other,” he said.