Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, recently shared his insights during a Grit podcast about his professional journey in the gaming industry, particularly focusing on Blizzard Entertainment. He described Blizzard as a studio with the potential for top-notch gaming; however, he also criticized its management aspect from a profit-driven viewpoint.

Kotick noted, “When we bought Vivendi Games you can’t imagine what these guys were doing,” explaining how Blizzard was struggling with numerous projects that were neither part of its core franchises nor financially viable.

He asserted that World of Warcraft was the only significant profit generator for the company, calling it “the best subscription business of all time.” Despite acknowledging its success, Kotick also believed that raising the subscription fees could alienate the game’s dedicated player base. He stated, “It’s a prickly audience, you know? You don’t want to do too much to agitate them. Even a dollar increase would’ve been a problem in my view.”

In discussing the future of WoW, Kotick emphasized making gameplay less time-consuming, reflecting on the changing demographics of players who may not have the same time to dedicate due to life changes.

Overall, his insights reveal a deep understanding of the gaming community and the delicate balance of monetization in the industry.