Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, emailed staff after information of Microsoft’s profitable $69 billion acquisition to say that he was “absolutely dedicated to serving to with the transition” and that he would keep on as CEO by way of the tip of 2023.

Kotick’s assertion left some ambiguity about his plans for 2024, however Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reviews that on January 1, Kotick will depart. It is “an enormous change for the online game business,” Schreier writes, which appears virtually restrained, given Kotick’s longevity and up to date historical past. A number of staff Schreier spoke to are “very excited for this deal to undergo,” particularly to see management change.

Kotick, who has led Activision for greater than 30 years and orchestrated its merger with Blizzard, had thought-about stepping down in late 2021. Following a lawsuit from the state of California alleging a “frat boy tradition” rife with pay disparity and sexual harassment, a Wall Road Journal report alleged that Kotick did not act on lots of of abuse allegations inside the firm and in addition stored the corporate’s board of administrators at midnight. Activision was additionally sued by its shareholders and pressured by state treasurers over its secrecy and responses relating to the California lawsuit. All of this led to an worker walkout and requires Kotick’s resignation.

Kotick stood quick by way of the flurry of criticism in 2021. In early 2022, Microsoft introduced its intent to purchase Activision, and the timing, based on reviews from Bloomberg and the Wall Road Journal, was not a coincidence. Kotick, based on Bloomberg, did not need to promote however had little leverage with Activision’s board to refuse a suggestion. Microsoft’s buy, at $95 per share, in comparison with the roughly $65 per share when the deal was introduced, supplied Kotick each a monetary and narrative “sleek exit,” based on the Journal’s sources.

Kotick advised VentureBeat after the Microsoft announcement that he did not consider the harassment and mismanagement accusations damage the corporate’s inventory. He cited delays in delivery Overwatch and Diablo titles, together with Name of Obligation‘s gross sales efficiency.

Whereas CEO of Activision, Kotick’s termination with out trigger, or “Termination by worker for good motive following a change of management,” assured him practically $300 million. Bloomberg reviews that Kotick’s windfall will seemingly be $375 million now that Microsoft’s acquisition has gone by way of.