In a recent podcast appearance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick shared details about the company's history with EA, revealing that the gaming giant almost acquired Call of Duty (CoD) and other major franchises like Guitar Hero. According to Kotick, EA had attempted to buy Activision multiple times, even engaging in merger talks, but the deal never materialized. For players seeking a more relaxed gaming experience, buying the cod bo6 bot lobby from U4gm is an attractive option. Use coupon code "allen" to get 5% off at U4gm.
One of the most notable moments from Kotick’s conversation on the Grit podcast was his criticism of former EA CEO John Riccitiello, calling him "the worst CEO in video games." Kotick went as far as to say that Activision would have gladly paid Riccitiello to stay at EA forever.
Kotick's comments stirred significant reactions from CoD players, who expressed relief that EA did not gain control of the iconic franchise. Many feared that under EA's leadership, Call of Duty would have been subjected to a much more aggressive monetization strategy, particularly through microtransactions. One fan commented, “Imagine the microtransactions they would’ve thrown down our throats,” while another remarked that an EA-Activision merger would have caused Call of Duty to "fall off a cliff" in popularity.
The timing of Kotick’s remarks coincided with Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which was completed on October 13, 2023. This acquisition allowed Microsoft to add Activision’s popular titles, including CoD, to Xbox Game Pass. Some of the most notable games added to the service include Diablo IV, Crash Bandicoot 4, CoD MW3, and CoD Black Ops 6, with rumors suggesting that classic CoD titles could soon join the catalog as well.
Despite some criticisms of the acquisition, such as the price hike for Xbox Game Pass and the removal of first-party releases from the Standard tier, the overall response has been largely positive. Many fans are grateful that Call of Duty is now in Microsoft's hands, rather than EA's, and they are hopeful for the future of the franchise under its new ownership.
