Bobby Kotick wanted to buy a gaming website to change Activision’s ‘public narrative,’ report says

In the lead-up to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, CEO Bobby Kotick was reportedly “eager to change the public narrative about the company,” according to a new report published Tuesday from the Wall Street Journal. Kotick’s alleged big idea? Kotaku buying PC Gamer, a news journal about video games.

The Journal cited sources familiar with Kotick in the new report, which details how Activision Blizzard’s workplace controversies allegedly influenced the $68.7 million deal announced on Tuesday. As part of the transition, Kotick will remain CEO at least until the deal’s closure, which is expected sometime in Microsoft’s 2023 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2023. According to a separate Journal report published Tuesday, Kotick may leave the company after Microsoft is taken over.

According to the Journal’s report, Kotick’s suggestion to buy a gaming website came about “in recent weeks.” It’s unclear whether or not that was before or after Microsoft stepped in to acquire the company. The Journal said Activision Blizzard’s “troubles” gave Microsoft a chance to come in with an offer.

“Deal-hungry Microsoft had long been interested in Activision and had discussed a potential acquisition in the past, some of those people said, but Mr. Kotick was cool to the idea until Microsoft offered him a graceful exit,” the Journal reported.

Kotick, along with several investors, has been the leader of Activision since 1991 when they purchased the company. In 2018, he helped orchestrate the Vivendi acquisition that merged Activision with Blizzard Entertainment, creating the new company Activision Blizzard, where he’s since served as CEO.

Future Media, a British media firm, owns PC Gamer magazine and website. Kotaku, formerly part of the Gizmodo Media group now known as G/O Media. Jim Spanfeller is the CEO of this company, a man employees are known to have no faith in. Coincidentally, Kotaku seemingly predicted this big idea: In 2010, the website published an April Fool’s Day post wherein it joked that Activision Blizzard and Kotick purchased the website, rebranding for the day as “Koticku.”

Activision Blizzard “disputed” the Journal’s report about gaming website acquisitions. It has not responded to Polygon’s request for comment.