Activision CEO: EA Sucks Souls From Acquired Developers

  I've always wondered just what to other top-tier videogame executives think of the executives of their competition. Well, it looks like I've gotten my answer. With, newly formed, Activision-Blizzard breathing down Electronic Arts' back, as both compete to see who can become the largest game publisher, it was only a matter of time until an executive from one company spoke out about the competition.

   That exec would be Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision. In a recent interview with Portfolio he states his discontent with Electronic Arts and how they operate their newly purchased studios: "...[EA] did a very good job of taking the soul out of a lot of the studios it acquired." Kotick continues by stating that his ship, that'd be Activision, doesn't function that way, as they've "built a model that celebrates entrepreneurial, opportunistic, independent values."

   Hey, we're not one to judge, but the way we look at it...both Electronic Arts and Activision have beaten to death a number of their franchises over the past years. Still, both brands also offer a solid section of games: Activision with Call of Duty and Guitar Hero; Electronic Arts with Half-Life and Rockband. All in all, the more competition between them, the better.

4/25/2008 Arnold Katayev