Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick launched a scathing attack on his ex-EA counterpart, John Riccitiello, labeling him "the worst CEO in video games" during a recent podcast appearance.

Speaking on the Grit podcast alongside former EA chief creative officer Bing Gordon, Kotick acknowledged EA's superior business performance compared to Activision's, stating that he would have paid to keep Riccitiello as CEO indefinitely. Gordon hinted that Riccitiello's leadership contributed to his own departure from EA. Kotick's comments were not solely based on Gordon's presence, emphasizing a fear that Gordon might lead EA instead.

Riccitiello's departure from EA in 2013 followed disappointing financial results and significant layoffs. His tenure, which began in 2007, included controversial proposals, such as suggesting Battlefield players pay to reload their weapons. He later served as CEO of Unity Technologies (2014-2023), a role also marked by controversy, including an apology to developers for his disparaging remarks about those opposed to microtransactions.

Kotick, who oversaw Activision Blizzard's $68.7 billion acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, revealed that EA had made multiple attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard. He admitted that EA's business model was, in many respects, stronger and more stable than Activision's.

While Kotick's leadership at Activision Blizzard resulted in significant financial success, his tenure was also plagued by controversy. The company faced numerous allegations of sexism, a toxic work environment, and accusations of mishandling serious misconduct allegations. While Activision Blizzard maintains that independent reviews found these claims unsubstantiated, a $54 million settlement was reached with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2023. The settlement noted that no court or independent investigation substantiated claims of widespread sexual harassment or improper board handling of misconduct.

In the same interview, Kotick also criticized Universal's 2016 Warcraft film adaptation, calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen."