Update, 19/01/2022: Since we published this story earlier today, PC Gamer editor-in-chief Evan Lahti has reached out to FTW on the subject, saying “This is an awfully strong reaction to us giving the last Call of Duty a 60.”
Original story: It has been alleged that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick considered acquiring video game-trade publications Kotaku and PC Gamer amid ongoing allegations of harassment within the company.
The news comes from a recently filed Wall Street Journal report published in the wake of Microsoft’s announcement that it is acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, which has already seen rival company Sony experience a $20 billion plummet in market value.
While the acquisition has spurred speculation about several different subjects — whether or not ABK games will be available on PS5 going forward (“some” will be), what the future has in store for blockbusters like Call of Duty, and so on — there is a more important matter at hand. Namely, how will Microsoft affect real change within Activision Blizzard?
Recent months have seen employees at the company stage walkouts and strikes in retaliation to the company maintaining Kotick’s status as CEO, which has also been contested by shareholders. Now, months later, it has emerged that Kotick had considered acquiring video game news outlets as a means of changing the public narrative of what was occurring internally at Activision Blizzard.
“Mr. Kotick has been eager to change the public narrative about the company, and in recent weeks has suggested Activision Blizzard make some kind of acquisition, including of gaming-trade publications like Kotaku and PC Gamer, according to people familiar with him,” the report reads.
“The Activision spokeswoman, Ms. Klasky, disputed that Mr. Kotick wanted to make the acquisitions. A spokesman for G/O Media, the parent company of Kotaku, declined to comment. PC Gamer didn’t respond to a request for comment.”
It is likely that the journalists and editors working at these publications had zero knowledge of an acquisition allegedly being floated, with both outlets being known for rigorous reporting standards and independence of voice.
Written by Cian Maher on behalf of GLHF.
